League Play-Off

Gruna
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Gruna's Gilvan Braga started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 2 minutes, Bernardinho Tinoco mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Gruna and the Iguaraci players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 6th match minute, Gruna was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tostão Dias to maneuver through the defense. In the 7th minute, Edgar Félix sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Gruna's Júnior Machado didn't even have to move. In the 11th minute Cristian Recife shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Júnior Machado saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Júnior Machado took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cristian Recife, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Gruna's Gilvan Braga managed to work through Iguaraci's defense and was going for an easy goal, but he hit the shot with his toe and the ball flew outside the goal. Gilvan Braga dejectedly held out his arms as if to ask why the ball hadn't gone in. After a defensive mix-up in Iguaraci's zone, Ronaldinho Pinho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dito Mesquita came out of the goal and Ronaldinho Pinho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gilvan Braga in the 20th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Dito Mesquita prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Gilvan Braga had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ronaldinho Pinho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 29th minute of the match, but Dito Mesquita made a huge save. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cristian Recife in the 31st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Júnior Machado saved Gruna from getting behind. Ronaldinho Pinho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 34th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gilvan Braga sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Gualter Braga hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. Cristian Recife fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Júnior Machado having to interfere. Iguaraci's Moisés Lopes got a good chance for a goal in the 42nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Júnior Machado showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Cristian Recife, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. If Gilvan Braga had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Moisés Lopes was the one to do the kick off. 2-1 became the score in the 57th minute when Ronaldinho Pinho elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. In the 62nd minute, Cristian Recife hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Moisés Lopes struck a weak shot in the 65th minute. Júnior Machado didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Iguaraci. 67 minutes into the match, Gruna's goalkeeper Júnior Machado had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cristian Recife. After some fancy dribbling in the 69th minute, Cristian Recife managed to get in a good position for a shot. Iguaraci's supporters rose to their feet, but Cristian Recife was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Júnior Machado breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gruna's Júnior Machado proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 71st minute of the match, managed to save Gruna from getting a goal against them. Cristian Recife recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 76th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Gruna's zone, Cristian Recife stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Júnior Machado came out of the goal and Cristian Recife tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Cristian Recife had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 84th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Júnior Machado took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Moisés Lopes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Moisés Lopes in the 88th minute of play forced Gruna's goalkeeper Júnior Machado to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 88 minutes into the match, Moisés Lopes had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Júnior Machado. Gruna's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Moisés Lopes was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. 92 minutes into the game, Cristian Recife was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Iguaraci's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Gruna the free kick. After a rather tough play, Iguaraci's Gualter Braga got a free kick in the 94th minute. Egídio Félix was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 95th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Gilvan Braga fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dito Mesquita having to interfere. The Iguaraci players were the happier at the end of the match as they had prevented Gruna from taking control. The game ends in a draw.