League Play-Off

Aninga
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Fernandinho Hoffmann started the match with the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in Aninga's zone, Arlindo Xavier stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ricardo Varela came out of the goal and Arlindo Xavier tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arlindo Xavier in the 9th minute of play forced Aninga's goalkeeper Ricardo Varela to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ricardo Varela came out of the goal in the 10th minute to try and stop a shot by Itibira EC's Olavo dos Santos. But to his dismay, Olavo dos Santos quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Arlindo Xavier received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Ricardo Varela tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 21 minutes into the game, Itibira EC's Olavo dos Santos nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Ricardo Varela made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Arlindo Xavier recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 26th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 29th match minute, Itibira EC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jardel Alagoano to maneuver through the defense. Olavo dos Santos sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the Aninga defense, Arlindo Xavier kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Ricardo Varela. The Aninga fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Ricardo Varela should have stopped the shot. After a defensive mix-up in Aninga's zone, Arlindo Xavier stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ricardo Varela came out of the goal and Arlindo Xavier tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 45 minutes into the match, Itibira EC's goalkeeper Américo Baiano had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Leonel Moraes. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Olavo dos Santos was the one to do the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 59th minute, Arlindo Xavier managed to get in a good position for a shot. Itibira EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Arlindo Xavier was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ricardo Varela breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When Jardel Alagoano was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 70 minutes had been played. In the 71st match minute, Itibira EC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jardel Alagoano to maneuver through the defense. In the 77th minute, Leonel Moraes got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 83rd match minute, Itibira EC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Robinho Bezerra to maneuver through the defense. Américo Baiano showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leonel Moraes in the 84th minute of the match. Fernandinho Hoffmann struck a weak shot in the 87th minute. Américo Baiano didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Aninga. Américo Baiano came out of the goal in the 89th minute to try and stop a shot by Aninga's Fernandinho Hoffmann. But to his dismay, Fernandinho Hoffmann quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-4. Américo Baiano took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leonel Moraes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Itibira EC played a much better game than Aninga and deserved their victory. The Aninga players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.