League Play-Off

Palmeira
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Olavo dos Santos kicked off to start the match. Olavo dos Santos struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. José Augusto Ceresso didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Itibira EC. Américo Baiano took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alfredão Baiano, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Frank Pimenta during the 10th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 10th minute, Frank Pimenta hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Américo Baiano made an important save on a dangerous shot by Daniel de Barros in the 14th minute. Celso Pimenta was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 16 minutes into the match. 15 minutes into the game, one of Palmeira FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. José Augusto Ceresso went to the wrong direction when Robinho Bezerra was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. Claudinei Ortiz hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. After recieving a nice pass, Itibira EC's Robinho Bezerra tried to score from far away in the 22nd minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Arlindo Xavier received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. José Augusto Ceresso tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 29th minute, Olavo dos Santos left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Itibira EC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. 34 minutes into the game, Olavo dos Santos cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-2. José Augusto Ceresso was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. When Olavo dos Santos came up free with the goalie in the 41st minute, the Itibira EC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Olavo dos Santos couldn't finish the play. Daniel de Barros came free with the goalkeeper in the 47th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Américo Baiano could save by the left post. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-2 lead.

With an all-out effort, Itibira EC's José Augusto Ceresso threw himself towards the right post 53 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Olavo dos Santos, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Arlindo Xaviers short, quick shot in the 61stth minute got José Augusto Ceresso to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. When Valdemar Mandrak fell near the penalty area in the 62nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Palmeira FC's protests and gave Valdemar Mandrak a yellow card for diving instead. Arlindo Xavier fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 66th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without José Augusto Ceresso having to interfere. Olavo dos Santos blasted a shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without José Augusto Ceresso having to make a save. Frank Pimenta kicked well hit freekick during the 78th minute of the match. José Augusto Ceresso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Olavo dos Santos in the 81st minute of play. Daniel de Barros fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Américo Baiano having to interfere. In the 95th minute, Daniel de Barros ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Américo Baiano was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-3. Itibira EC's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.