Fluminense overcome Grecians in historic fixture
Line-UpsExeter City: Pym; Egan, Tillson ©, Read, Riley-Lowe; Byrne, Pope, Jay; Charles, Watkins, Reid.
Subs: Hamon, Rehemi, Down, Green, Rogers, Harkness, Merritt, Fisher.
Fluminense Under-19: Jennerson, Breno Caetano, Matheus Carrasco, Kadu, Guilherme, Ayrton, Fernando, Andrey, Felipe, Joao Vitor, Patrick.
Subs: Leonardo, Renato, Zé Ricardo, Alex, Michel, Caio, Berg.
Goals: Felipe 53', Andrey 80'
Referee: Adam Bromley
Report
TWO MOMENTSof brilliance saw a young Exeter City side go down to Fluminense’s Under-19s at St James Park.
The Grecians went with a youthful eleven to take on Fluminense’s Under-19 side in an historic match to celebrate 101 years since the Grecians travelled to Brazil for the Selecão national side’s first match.
Alex Byrne and Jason Pope were both selected for City ahead of their impending loan moves to Weston-super-Mare, and Pope would almost hand the Grecians an early lead. He won possession just outside of the Fluminense penalty area before stinging the fingers of visiting goalkeeper Jennerson.
Fluminense centre-back Matheus Carrasco headed over from a corner with just three minutes on the clock as both sides made an attacking start, while Christy Pym was called into action for the first time when right-back Breno Caetano delivered a daisy-cutter into his box, with no Fluminense players around to trouble the City stopper.
Patrick, the Fluzão striker, had the best chance of the first half after five minutes when his header smacked the top side of the bar.
Matt Jay was caught by surprise as Jamie Reid's right-side ball reached him, and only managed an air-shot as the sides went in goalless.
HALF-TIME: EXETER CITY 0-0 FLUMINENSE U19
With the usual friendly substitutions beginning to intersperse the action in the second half, the visitors found a path through the sea of changes to take the lead. Felipe handed the visitors the advantage after Patrick pulled the ball back for the striker to knock past substitute goalkeeper James Hamon.
Captain Jordan Tillson produced a fine block to deny Patrick a chance at doubling the Fluzão lead, while at the other end, Jamie Reid and Ollie Watkins were causing some problems – Jennerson not having an easy day in the Fluminense goal.
But the plucky Grecians were finally seen off thanks to midfielder Andrey’s barnstorming free-kick, which moved in all sorts of directions as it sailed past a helpless Hamon from all of thirty-five yards.
FULL-TIME: EXETER CITY 0-2 FLUMINENSE U19
Attendance: 1,046