League Play-Off

Estadio Taipinhas
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) 6 minutes into the match, Taipinhas's goal looked a bit too open when Nuno Melo came free, but Nuno Azevedo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Artur Ribeiro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from João Morais, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. After having played for 12 minutes, Lucas Macedo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Taipinhas's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lucas Macedo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers João Morais in the 14th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Artur Ribeiro saved Guadalupe FC from getting behind. With a little luck, Guadalupe FC's Artur Ribeiro got control of the ball when Bento Lisboa tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Henrique Antunes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nuno Melo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 30 played minutes Taipinhas got a freekick which was hit by Augusto Simões. Taipinhas's Nuno Azevedo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Henrique Antunes in the 32nd minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Taipinhas's zone, Nuno Melo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nuno Azevedo came out of the goal and Nuno Melo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Lucas Macedo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Nuno Melo came up free with the goalie in the 48th minute, the Guadalupe FC 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 Nuno Melo couldn't finish the play. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Henrique Antunes made a kick off. Nuno Melo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Nuno Azevedo firmly grabbed it by the left post. The supporters of Guadalupe FC booed when Taipinhas was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bento Lisboa didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Henrique Antunes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With his leg Nuno Azevedo managed to avoid a goal in the 60thth minute, when Guadalupe FC's Luís Sá fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 62nd minute João Morais shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Artur Ribeiro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Luís Sá 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. Artur Ribeiro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from João Morais in the 67th minute of play. In the 69th minute the ball was on its way in behind Guadalupe FC's goalkeeper Artur Ribeiro, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The supporters of Taipinhas booed when Guadalupe FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 70 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adelino Mendes didn't get a good kick on the ball. 74 minutes into the game, Nuno Melo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Nuno Azevedo was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Nuno Melo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 78th minute. Nuno Azevedo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The audience was convinced that João Morais's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Artur Ribeiro was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. Guadalupe FC's Nuno Melo got a good chance for a goal in the 82nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 86th minute, João Morais managed to get in a good position for a shot. Taipinhas's supporters rose to their feet, but João Morais was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Artur Ribeiro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 87 minutes into the match, Guadalupe FC's Nuno Melo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nuno Azevedo narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Augusto Simões had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The Guadalupe FC supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Guadalupe FC would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.