League Play-Off

Ninho do Urubu
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Almir Maia took the kick off in the first half of the match. The Tigers's Almir Maia got a good chance for a goal in the 23rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a little luck, The Tigers's Durval Lima got control of the ball when Vinícius Salgado tried to sneak it across the goal line. Emerson Costa hit a great freekick 35 minutes into the match. After 39 played minutes The Tigers got a freekick which was hit by Luiz Fabiano Berger. With a little luck, The Tigers's Durval Lima got control of the ball when Vinícius Salgado tried to sneak it across the goal line. Artur Dias showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marcinho Valle, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. Artur Dias took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Almir Maia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After the first half The Tigers were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Vitinho Miranda to strike the kick off in the second half. With an all-out effort, The Tigers's Artur Dias threw himself towards the right post 51 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Marcinho Valle, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Almir Maia was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 56th minute. The Tigers's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. If Vinícius Salgado had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Artur Dias was a little too slow when Giovanni Ortiz got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 61st minute. The score was now 0-2. Artur Dias made an important save on a dangerous shot by Almir Maia in the 65th minute. 69 minutes into the match, Niterói FC's goalkeeper Artur Dias had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Giovanni Ortiz. Almir Maia was extremely unlucky when he, in the 76th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. In the 79th minute, Marco Linares hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Marcinho Valle during the 80th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 81st minute, Marcinho Valle hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Arí Dracena took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 81st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Durval Lima. The Tigers's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Niterói FC's zone, Almir Maia stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Artur Dias came out of the goal and Almir Maia tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Artur Dias made a fantastic save in the 87th minute, when Giovanni Ortiz sent off a good shot on target. 91 minutes into the match, The Tigers's goal looked a bit too open when Vitinho Miranda came free, but Durval Lima reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The Tigers played a much better game than Niterói FC and deserved their victory. The Niterói FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.