League

Estadio Ribacais
Spectators: 8147 (Terracing: 6111, Seating: 1874, VIP seats: 162) After 5 played minutes estrelas got a freekick which was hit by Eliseu Tristão. After 7 played minutes, Funchal e Benfica's Sálvio Frois shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper João Carreira 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 Funchal e Benfica reached it. In the 14th minute, Antero Noronha hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. estrelas's João Carreira played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Durval Assunção in the 19th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Altino Portugal in the 21st minute of play forced Funchal e Benfica's goalkeeper Noel Coutinho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Eliseu Tristão received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 24th minute. Noel Coutinho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Altino Portugal struck a weak shot in the 26th minute. Noel Coutinho didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for estrelas. Durval Assunção's late challenge caught a estrelas'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. Durval Assunção hit a great freekick 27 minutes into the match. 35 minutes into the match, Almiro Veloso had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Noel Coutinho. Funchal e Benfica's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Almiro Veloso was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. The audience was convinced that Carlos Lessa's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but João Carreira was relentless in the 43rd minute of the game. 44 minutes into the match, Funchal e Benfica's goalkeeper Noel Coutinho had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Eliseu Tristão. If Altino Portugal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Funchal e Benfica's zone, Martinho Távora stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Noel Coutinho came out of the goal and Martinho Távora tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 4-0.

Noel Coutinho made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eliseu Tristão in the 55th minute of play. If Antero Noronha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 58 minutes into the match, Funchal e Benfica's goal looked a bit too open when Almiro Veloso came free, but Noel Coutinho reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Altino Portugal in the 60th minute of play forced Funchal e Benfica's goalkeeper Noel Coutinho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. estrelas's Martinho Távora got a good chance for a goal in the 61st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Funchal e Benfica's Noel Coutinho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Eliseu Tristão in the 63rd minute of play. Altino Portugal sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eliseu Tristão in the 67th minute of play forced Funchal e Benfica's goalkeeper Noel Coutinho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 68th minute, Altino Portugal 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. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 71st minute of the game. One of Funchal e Benfica:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of estrelas:s goal. In the 76th match minute, Funchal e Benfica was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Durval Assunção to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Almiro Veloso in the 78th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Noel Coutinho prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 79 minutes into the match, Martinho Távora had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Noel Coutinho. Funchal e Benfica's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Martinho Távora was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 6-0. After a defensive mix-up in Funchal e Benfica's zone, Almiro Veloso stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Noel Coutinho came out of the goal and Almiro Veloso tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Altino Portugal took the ball and in the 84 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Noel Coutinho. Noel Coutinho dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 7-0. In the 89th minute, Almiro Veloso 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 8-0. If Eliseu Tristão had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Noel Coutinho showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Almiro Veloso, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. After some careless play in the Funchal e Benfica defense, Eliseu Tristão kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Noel Coutinho. The Funchal e Benfica fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Noel Coutinho should have stopped the shot. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. estrelas had played much better football throughout.