Náutico 0-1 Grêmio – It’s a Funny Old Game

The visiting side required a police escort from the team bus to the dressing room and were unable to even warm up on the Arena Pernambuco pitch. Kick-off was delayed by fifteen minutes, but 34 minutes after the match eventually began, Náutico were awarded a penalty, following a foul on striker Paulo Matos. However, Bruno Carvalho struck the post from the resulting spot-kick, and the teams went in level at the break.

In a further quirk, Lucas Leiva, now of Liverpool, was introduced for the visitors at half time. On 55 minutes, Grêmio left-back Escalona received a second yellow card for deliberate hand-ball, with the home side needing just one goal to clinch promotion. Anderson was introduced from the bench, before the game descended into chaos on 71 minutes. Referee Djalma Beltrami awarded Náutico their second penalty of the match and Grêmio midfielder Eduardo Martins Nunes was given his marching orders following (another!) deliberate handball, although the video below shows the decision to be very harsh.

The decision infuriated away fans and players alike. Defenders Domingos and Patricio were dismissed after haranguing the referee (the video highlights also show Marcelo make contact with Beltrami) and the match had to be stopped for twenty minutes due to the volume of Gremio supporters on the pitch. Only after the intervention of riot police could play recommence.

Ademar Junior took the second spot-kick but saw it saved by the legs of Galatto; only serving to intensify the hostility from the stands. From the resulting corner, the ball broke to Anderson, but his designs on starting a counter attack were abruptly ended due to a foul by Batata. The indiscretion earned the Náutico man a second yellow card. Keeping up with this? The player count now stood at Náutico 10-7 Grêmio.

Sharp-witted Marcelo Costa took the free-kick quickly, passing to Anderson. The 17-year old was equally canny; he proceeded to beat two defenders, then goalkeeper Rodolpho, putting Grêmio on course for the most famous of victories. The seven men somehow held out and the 1-0 win was enough to snatch the Serie B title, consigning previously jubilant Santa Cruz to second place.

The time between Ademar’s penalty and Anderson’s winning strike? 71 seconds. So important was this short period that a DVD entitled “Inacreditável – A Batalha dos Aflitos” (Unbelievable – The Battle of the Afflicted) was released in 2007, and focuses on the time between the two incidents. As somebody whose name escapes me (I think he used to be a manager?) once said; Football? Bloody hell.