League Play-Off

Maracanã
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Beto Lira got the match started through his kick off. A hard shot 6 in the game by Válter Rezende from a close distance when the talented Caetano Donato managed to make a qualified save. Pessoa's players were relieved. When the match had gone on for 8 minutes, Válter Rezende took a quick shot and it went in 1-0 without a chance for Caetano Donato to make any attempt to save it. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Rodriguinho Veloso during the 13th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Pessoa booed when E.C. RIO DE JANEIRO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 13 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rodriguinho Veloso didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Pessoa's zone, Sydney Andrade stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Caetano Donato came out of the goal and Sydney Andrade tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When E.C. RIO DE JANEIRO's Válter Rezende in the 18th minute got a chance for a shot 18th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Pessoa's goalie prevented a goal. Caetano Donato made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Válter Rezende in the 21st minute of play. Pessoa's Caetano Donato proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 25th minute of the match, managed to save Pessoa from getting a goal against them. Walmir Linhares fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tarcisio Almeida having to interfere. When the match clock showed 30 minutes, the score became 2-0 when Válter Rezende sped through Pessoa's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Caetano Donato. Caetano Donato made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sydney Andrade in the 35th minute of play. Caetano Donato made a fantastic save in the 37th minute, when Válter Rezende sent off a good shot on target. Edgar Vinhas lost his temper 48 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. The supporters of Pessoa booed when E.C. RIO DE JANEIRO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 49 match minutes in a wonderful position. Edgar Vinhas didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pessoa's Reginaldo Trevisan got a good chance for a goal in the 50th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 3-0 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Betão Melo to strike the kick off in the second half. The supporters of Pessoa booed when E.C. RIO DE JANEIRO was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Válter Rezende didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 60th minute of the match Kauan Almeida sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tarcisio Almeida skillfully saved the ball. Tarcisio Almeida made an important save on a dangerous shot by Kauan Almeida in the 66th minute. Sydney Andrade sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 68 minutes into the game, Narciso Lira was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Pessoa's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave E.C. RIO DE JANEIRO the free kick. Narciso Lira hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Pessoa's zone, Manoel Couto stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Caetano Donato came out of the goal and Manoel Couto tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 73 minutes, Walmir Linhares managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Pessoa's supporters crossed their fingers, but Walmir Linhares was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a rather tough play, Pessoa's Angelo Netto got a free kick in the 77th minute. If Manoel Couto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 83 minutes into the match, Pessoa's goal looked a bit too open when Betão Melo came free, but Caetano Donato reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sydney Andrade received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Caetano Donato tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 88th minute of the game Tiago Gabriel Cerezo made a throw-in which Gil Azevedo played forward. Walmir Linhares fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tarcisio Almeida having to interfere. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. E.C. RIO DE JANEIRO fully deserved thier win.