League Play-Off

Ananatuba
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Nando Seco kicked off to start the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Frederico Pontes got free with Durval Neves in the 7th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Fernandinho Quintal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 16th minute, Dorival Palmeira hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 19th match minute, Sancho Panza was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cláudio Netto to maneuver through the defense. The audience was convinced that Nando Seco's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eurico Meirelles was relentless in the 20th minute of the game. When Frederico Pontes came up free with the goalie in the 28th minute, the Sancho Panza 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 Frederico Pontes couldn't finish the play. Eurico Meirelles took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nando Seco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 31 minutes, Nando Seco mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mendes EC and the Sancho Panza players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 32nd minute, Nando Seco hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nando Seco in the 33rd minute of play forced Sancho Panza's goalkeeper Eurico Meirelles to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Fernandinho Quintal 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. Sancho Panza's Eurico Meirelles played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fernandinho Quintal in the 38th minute of play. 42 minutes into the game, Mendes EC's Fernandinho Quintal nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Eurico Meirelles made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. After the first half Mendes EC were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Frédson Recife to make the kick off. After 52 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Sancho Panza! The referee gave Mendes EC a penalty, 54 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Doni Souto, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Sancho Panza's Eurico Meirelles. 0-2. After having played for 58 minutes, Frédson Recife managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sancho Panza's supporters crossed their fingers, but Frédson Recife was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Sancho Panza's Otávio Quadros suffered a sore thigh after 60 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Eliseu Souto charged in rather forcefully in the 60th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Eliseu Souto the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Sancho Panza booed when Mendes EC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 61 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eliseu Souto didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 62 played minutes, Sancho Panza's Arnaldo da Costa shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Durval Neves came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Sancho Panza reached it. After having played for 65 minutes, Fernandinho Quintal managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mendes EC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Fernandinho Quintal was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Nando Seco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nando Seco in the 71st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Eurico Meirelles prevented the ball from getting in the gole. An unexpectedly hard shot by João Pedro Tróia in the 78th minute of play forced Sancho Panza's goalkeeper Eurico Meirelles to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 81st minute Nando Seco shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eurico Meirelles saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Frederico Pontes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 82nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Cláudio Netto got his second yellow card in the match during the 87th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. After some fancy dribbling in the 90th minute, João Pedro Tróia managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mendes EC's supporters rose to their feet, but João Pedro Tróia was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Eurico Meirelles breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Eurico Meirelles showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nando Seco, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. If Fernandinho Quintal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Sancho Panza fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Mendes EC were clearly better and deserved to take the win.