League

Vale Park
Spectators: 6932 (Terracing: 5432, Seating: 1400, VIP seats: 100) Assiz's Abel de Salles started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alex de Mendonça in the 4th minute of play forced Assiz's goalkeeper Adalberto Vieira to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a little luck, Assiz's Adalberto Vieira got control of the ball when Luís da Mata tried to sneak it across the goal line. Luís da Mata received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 10th minute. Adalberto Vieira tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Port Vale booed when Assiz was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 14 match minutes in a wonderful position. Cléber Mendes didn't get a good kick on the ball. Adalberto Vieira made a fantastic save in the 16th minute, when Luís da Mata sent off a good shot on target. In the 25th minute Alex de Mendonça shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Adalberto Vieira saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 26 minutes into the match, Assiz's goal looked a bit too open when Luís da Mata came free, but Adalberto Vieira reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Adalberto Vieira made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alex de Mendonça in the 28th minute of play. If Alex de Mendonça had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Miguel Salgado kicked well hit freekick during the 36th minute of the match. Felipe Santana hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. Gilson Paulista fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Júlio Sampaio having to interfere. Noel Massa's late challenge caught a Assiz's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Noel Massa helped the player get up and apologised. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The crowd rose to their feet as Abel de Salles kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Júlio Sampaio. That made the score 1-1 in the 53 minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 58th minute, Luís da Mata managed to get in a good position for a shot. Port Vale's supporters rose to their feet, but Luís da Mata was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Adalberto Vieira breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Adalberto Vieira showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alex de Mendonça, who was totally free with the ball in the 60th minute. Alex de Mendonça received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Adalberto Vieira tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gilson Paulista got free with Júlio Sampaio in the 64th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 66 minutes into the match, Port Vale's Luís da Mata sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Adalberto Vieira narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Port Vale's Breno Neiva got a free kick in the 67th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Port Vale's zone, Abel de Salles stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Júlio Sampaio came out of the goal and Abel de Salles tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After a defensive mix-up in Port Vale's zone, Gilson Paulista stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Júlio Sampaio came out of the goal and Gilson Paulista tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gilson Paulista received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Júlio Sampaio tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Abel de Salles recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 80th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Abel de Salles fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Júlio Sampaio having to interfere. Júlio Sampaio showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Abel de Salles in the 97th minute of the match. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Assiz players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.