All pictures by Stuart Tree

Corinthian Casuals boss Matt Howard will hope a bizarre week in Brazil can inspire his men to Ryman Division One South safety.

Casuals lost 3-0 to former world club champions SC Corinthian Paulista in a friendly amid crazy scenes in front of 37,000 fans at the Arena Corinthians in Sao Paulo on Sunday.

The match was originally meant to be played 100 years ago, but was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War I.

Casuals did not disgrace themselves as they held their more illustrious hosts at 0-0 for more than an hour.

Both Juevan Spencer and Joel Thompson went close, while leading scorer Jamie Byatt did have the ball in the net only for the goal to be ruled out for off-side.

A Danilo strike and two from Luciano in the final 15 minutes gave the hosts a comfortable win.

Casuals players had been treated like royalty in the build up with television and press reporters following their every move, and their team bus receiving a police escort to the stadium, a 2014 World Cup venue.

“For our little team in Tolworth to have the whole of Brazil watching us and embracing us as we took on south America’s largest football club was surreal,” said photographer Stuart Tree.

Casuals, currently only eight points above the relegation zone, return to reality when they host Carshalton Athletic at King George’s Field – where the average gate is about 150.

“We led the life of David Beckham for a week. We spent two hours signing autographs last Monday,” said Howard.

“But now we can get back to normal and get three points on Saturday. We are desperate for a win.”

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