League Play-Off

Red Wolves Arena
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Válbson Silva started the match with the kick off. Carice's José Mendonça played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gildo Cruz in the 7th minute of play. 11 minutes into the match, Avante FC's goal looked a bit too open when Válbson Silva came free, but Dorian Lara reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 21st minute of the match Carice got a corner. Avante FC's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Zé Pedro Pinheiro ran over to the corner to take the kick. Carice's Zé Pedro Pinheiro was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Dorian Lara in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. After some fancy dribbling in the 25th minute, Doriva de Mendonça managed to get in a good position for a shot. Carice's supporters rose to their feet, but Doriva de Mendonça was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Dorian Lara breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Dorian Lara took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Doriva de Mendonça, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Alfredinho Mazza during the 32nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Carice's Alfredinho Mazza got a free kick in the 33rd minute. When Zé Pedro Pinheiro fell near the penalty area in the 41st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Carice's protests and gave Zé Pedro Pinheiro a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Carice's Zé Pedro Pinheiro got a free kick in the 41st minute. In the 50th minute of the match Avante FC got a corner. Carice's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Washington Félix ran over to the corner to take the kick. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

Dorian Lara was out of position in the 57 minute of play, and Válbson Silva capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Válbson Silva really showed his touch with that goal: 0-1. In the 61st minute Erasmo Luz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but José Mendonça saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 63 minutes into the match, Avante FC's goal looked a bit too open when Doriva de Mendonça came free, but Dorian Lara reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Erasmo Luz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. José Mendonça tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 69th match minute, Carice was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alfredinho Mazza to maneuver through the defense. Erasmo Luz fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without José Mendonça having to interfere. Avante FC's Erasmo Luz got a good chance for a goal in the 73rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 76th minute Erasmo Luz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but José Mendonça saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 79 minutes into the game, Gildo Cruz was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Avante FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Carice the free kick. Dorian Lara showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Válbson Silva in the 88th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Avante FC's zone, Válbson Silva stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dorian Lara came out of the goal and Válbson Silva tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Erasmo Luz struck a weak shot in the 95th minute. José Mendonça didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Avante FC. The Carice supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Carice would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.