League Play-Off

Estadio Abiul
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alexandre Santarém started the match with the kick off. Joaquim Peseiro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Armando Antunes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 5 minutes of play, Ponta do Pargo F.C's Alípio Saraiva made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Armando Antunes was left in no man's land by his defense there! After 11 minutes, Joaquim Henriques mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Abiul FC and the Ponta do Pargo F.C players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Ponta do Pargo F.C booed when Abiul FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Joaquim Henriques didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 14th minute, Domingos Sampaio made a precise shot to the right of Armando Antunes. Abiul FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-2. If Humberto Porto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Abiul FC's Mariano Pacheco got a good chance for a goal in the 20th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 23rd minute, Abiul FC's Joaquim Henriques dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Domingos Sampaio in the 26th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Armando Antunes prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With an all-out effort, Abiul FC's Higino Antas threw himself towards the right post 30 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Alexandre Santarém, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Domingos Sampaio charged in rather forcefully in the 31st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Domingos Sampaio the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to Ponta do Pargo F.C getting a freekick after 31 minutes play. Domingos Sampaio hit a great ball. Mariano Pacheco could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 36th minute of the match, but Higino Antas made a huge save. 39 minutes into the match, Ponta do Pargo F.C's goal looked a bit too open when Alexandre Santarém came free, but Higino Antas reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 41 minutes into the match, Humberto Porto had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Higino Antas. Ponta do Pargo F.C's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Humberto Porto was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. After 45 minutes, Domingos Sampaio made it 2-3 with a short kick to the right side. Abiul FC's Armando Antunes tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. After the first half Ponta do Pargo F.C were leading 2-3. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

After having played for 56 minutes, Domingos Sampaio managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ponta do Pargo F.C's supporters crossed their fingers, but Domingos Sampaio was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Alípio Saraiva fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Armando Antunes having to interfere. 61 minutes into the game, Domingos Sampaio recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Armando Antunes. Domingos Sampaio showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-4. Joaquim Peseiro sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 68 minutes, Domingos Sampaio managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ponta do Pargo F.C's supporters crossed their fingers, but Domingos Sampaio was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Daniel Esteves's late challenge caught a Ponta do Pargo F.C's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Daniel Esteves helped the player get up and apologised. In the 72nd minute, Domingos Sampaio 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. Higino Antas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alexandre Santarém in the 77th minute of play. Domingos Sampaio struck a weak shot in the 80th minute. Armando Antunes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ponta do Pargo F.C. After 82 minutes, Domingos Sampaio made it 2-5 with a short kick to the right side. Abiul FC's Armando Antunes tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Domingos Sampaio fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 89th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Armando Antunes having to interfere. Armando Antunes made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Alípio Saraiva sent off a good shot on target. Armando Antunes came out of the goal in the 95th minute to try and stop a shot by Ponta do Pargo F.C's Domingos Sampaio. But to his dismay, Domingos Sampaio quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-6. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Ponta do Pargo F.C walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.