League Play-Off

Sao Januario
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) 4 minutes into the match, Matauna SS's goalkeeper Dário Saldanha had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Eriberto Fonseca. Dário Saldanha was out of position in the 8 minute of play, and Arnaldo Sousa capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Arnaldo Sousa really showed his touch with that goal: 1-0. 15 minutes into the match, Vascao's goal looked a bit too open when Fernandinho Leite came free, but Gabriel Corrêa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eriberto Fonseca received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Dário Saldanha tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Matauna SS's Dário Saldanha proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 25th minute of the match, managed to save Matauna SS from getting a goal against them. Gabriel Corrêa showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Samuel Maia in the 26th minute of the match. If Samuel Maia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 27th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Fernandinho Leite received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 30th minute. Gabriel Corrêa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arnaldo Sousa in the 32nd minute of play forced Matauna SS's goalkeeper Dário Saldanha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Arnaldo Machado got free with Dário Saldanha in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 39 minutes into the match, Matauna SS's goalkeeper Dário Saldanha had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Arnaldo Machado. 2-0 became the score in the 41st minute when Arnaldo Sousa elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. Vito Damião's late challenge caught a Matauna SS's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Vito Damião helped the player get up and apologised. Vito Damião kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. In the 49th minute of the match José Maria Maranhense sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Gabriel Corrêa skillfully saved the ball. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

After 53 played minutes Matauna SS got a freekick which was hit by Samuel Maia. In the 57th minute Samuel Maia shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gabriel Corrêa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Samuel Maia sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Arnaldo Sousa in the 62nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Dário Saldanha saved Matauna SS from getting behind. 64 minutes into the match, Arnaldo Sousa notched a goal, 3-0, to the right of Matauna SS's Dário Saldanha. Dário Saldanha was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Arnaldo Machado had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Arnaldo Sousa's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Dário Saldanha read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. In the 70thth minute of the game Arnaldo Sousa who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Matauna SS's Dário Saldanha was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Matauna SS's zone, Arnaldo Machado stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Dário Saldanha came out of the goal and Arnaldo Machado tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Matauna SS's Fernandinho Leite got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of Matauna SS booed when Vascao was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 88 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eriberto Fonseca didn't get a good kick on the ball. Matauna SS were awarded a corner in the 91th minute after Vascao's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. José Maria Maranhense took the corner. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Vascao's goalie and right to Samuel Maia. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Vascao's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Samuel Maia might have been able to make a better finish in the 94th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gabriel Corrêa. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Samuel Maia ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Afonsinho Pereira got free with Gabriel Corrêa in the 97th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Matauna SS's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.