League

Funchal Campus
Spectators: 8002 (Terracing: 6003, Seating: 1840, VIP seats: 159) Jordão Lamego started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Noel Coutinho didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Jordão Lamego went, in the 3rd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. Afonso Lage received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Noel Coutinho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 7 minutes into the match, Funchal e Benfica's goal looked a bit too open when Jordão Lamego came free, but Noel Coutinho reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Durval Assunção's late challenge caught a Esmoriz's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Durval Assunção helped the player get up and apologised. In the 12th minute Sandro Paredes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Noel Coutinho saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jordão Lamego charged in rather forcefully in the 13th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Jordão Lamego the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 13th match minute, Esmoriz was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jordão Lamego to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Francisco Soveral in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Valentim Mourinho prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 16th minute, Sandro Paredes made a precise shot to the right of Noel Coutinho. Funchal e Benfica's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. A collision led to Esmoriz getting a freekick after 20 minutes play. Honorato Noronha hit a great ball. Valentim Mourinho stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Carlos Lessa's shot from short distance in the 21st minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carlos Lessa in the 22nd minute of play forced Esmoriz's goalkeeper Valentim Mourinho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Jordão Lamego in the 23rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Noel Coutinho saved Funchal e Benfica from getting behind. 27 minutes into the game, Silvestre Cortez was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Funchal e Benfica's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Esmoriz the free kick. In the 27th minute, Silvestre Cortez hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Esmoriz getting a freekick after 29 minutes play. Honorato Noronha hit a great ball. Valentim Mourinho was out of position in the 31 minute of play, and Carlos Lessa capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Carlos Lessa really showed his touch with that goal: 1-2. Afonso Lage fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Noel Coutinho having to interfere. André Sá succeeded in the game's 38th minute to get real power on a long shot . Funchal e Benfica's Noel Coutinho hadn't the time to block the shot which was pasted into the goal, 1-3! When Esmoriz's Jordão Lamego in the 41st minute got a chance for a shot 41st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Funchal e Benfica's goalie prevented a goal. Francisco Soveral sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Rui Valente fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Valentim Mourinho having to interfere. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-3.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Carlos Lessa to make the kick off. In the 52nd minute, Jordão Lamego ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Noel Coutinho was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-4. Carlos Lessa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Valentim Mourinho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Noel Coutinho made a fantastic save in the 59th minute, when Jordão Lamego sent off a good shot on target. Funchal e Benfica's Noel Coutinho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jordão Lamego in the 60th minute of play. Filipe Furtado kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. In the 62nd minute, Carlos Lessa got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 63rd minute, Rui Valente ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Valentim Mourinho was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-4. In the 68thth minute of the game Jordão Lamego who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Funchal e Benfica's Noel Coutinho was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. In the 69th minute, Sandro Paredes left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Esmoriz fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-5. Rui Valente took the ball and in the 73 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Valentim Mourinho. Valentim Mourinho dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-5. The supporters of Funchal e Benfica booed when Esmoriz was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 79 match minutes in a wonderful position. Filipe Furtado didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Carlos Lessa in the 80th minute of play forced Esmoriz's goalkeeper Valentim Mourinho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Valentim Mourinho showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlos Lessa in the 82nd minute of the match. Carlos Lessa scored 4-5 in the 84th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Valentim Mourinho, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Valentim Mourinho showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carlos Lessa, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. André Sá was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 95 minutes into the match. In a very dangerous position, a player in Esmoriz fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 94th minute. Penalty! The supporters of Funchal e Benfica booed when Esmoriz was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 99 match minutes in a wonderful position. Honorato Noronha didn't get a good kick on the ball. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Esmoriz had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.