League Play-Off

Estadio Adegoiva
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Joaquim Guarda took the kick off in the first half of the match. Tarcísio Teves fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 2nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Miguel Nascimento having to interfere. Miguel Nascimento took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Silvestre Castelo Branco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Silvestre Castelo Branco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 11 minutes, Alexandre Figueiredo mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Adegoiva and the S.L.Benfica players grew even worse after the yellow card. Silvestre Castelo Branco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luís Barata fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Miguel Nascimento having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Herbert Almstedt during the 22nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 22 played minutes S.L.Benfica got a freekick which was hit by Herbert Almstedt. Fernando Aguilera was a little too slow when Joaquim Guarda got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 23rd minute. The score was now 1-0. After a defensive mix-up in Adegoiva's zone, Silvestre Castelo Branco stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Miguel Nascimento came out of the goal and Silvestre Castelo Branco tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when João Morais got free with Fernando Aguilera in the 31st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Fernando Aguilera showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joaquim Guarda, who was totally free with the ball in the 36th minute. Miguel Nascimento took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Silvestre Castelo Branco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 42 played minutes Adegoiva got a freekick which was hit by Alexandre Figueiredo. Luís Barata's late challenge caught a Adegoiva's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Luís Barata helped the player get up and apologised. After 45 played minutes S.L.Benfica got a freekick which was hit by Luís Barata. In the 46th minute, Tomás Valente fired a really elegant long shot, but Fernando Aguilera threw himself and managed to get hold of the ball just in front of the right post. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The wind increased when Silvestre Castelo Branco made the kick off in the second half. In the 55th minute, Tarcísio Teves fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Miguel Nascimento, passed just outside the right post. When Silvestre Castelo Branco came up free with the goalie in the 58th minute, the S.L.Benfica fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Silvestre Castelo Branco couldn't finish the play. If João Morais had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Silvestre Castelo Branco might have been able to make a better finish in the 66th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Miguel Nascimento. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Silvestre Castelo Branco ran back to his position shaking his head. After 66 minutes, Francisco Pinho mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Adegoiva and the S.L.Benfica players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Adegoiva getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Francisco Pinho hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Silvestre Castelo Branco in the 74th minute of play forced Adegoiva's goalkeeper Miguel Nascimento to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 75th minute, Silvestre Castelo Branco ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Miguel Nascimento was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-2. Luís Barata hit a great freekick 78 minutes into the match. In the 80th minute of the match, Silvestre Castelo Branco tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Miguel Nascimento saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. With an all-out effort, S.L.Benfica's Miguel Nascimento threw himself towards the right post 80 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Silvestre Castelo Branco, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Fernando Aguilera took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alexandre Leite, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Miguel Nascimento took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tarcísio Teves, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Miguel Nascimento showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Silvestre Castelo Branco, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. Germano Coimbra struck a weak shot in the 89th minute. Miguel Nascimento didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for S.L.Benfica. When Silvestre Castelo Branco came up free with the goalie in the 93rd minute, the S.L.Benfica fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Silvestre Castelo Branco couldn't finish the play. After 94 played minutes Adegoiva got a freekick which was hit by Alexandre Figueiredo. When the match was over S.L.Benfica could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Adegoiva throughout the match.