League Play-Off

Pipeira
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Álvaro Nogueira made the kick off which started today's match. When Rafael Moreira came up free with the goalie in the 4th minute, the Castelo Branco 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 Rafael Moreira couldn't finish the play. In the 17th minute Rafael Moreira shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xavier Assis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 17th match minute, Pipeira was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bruno Neves to maneuver through the defense. Xavier Assis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Luís Malafaia, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Xavier Assis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rafael Moreira in the 23rd minute of the match. The supporters of Pipeira booed when Castelo Branco FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Américo Garcia didn't get a good kick on the ball. 2-0 became the score in the 30th minute when Alexandre Moreira elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. If Álvaro Nogueira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 45th minute, Pipeira's Rui Aleixo ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Manuel Salvado. Manuel Salvado yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 3-0. 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 3-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Rafael Moreira made a kick off. 51 minutes into the match, Castelo Branco FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alexandre Moreira came free, but Manuel Salvado reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Luís Malafaia sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luís Malafaia scored 3-1 in the 57th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Xavier Assis, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Luís Malafaia received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Xavier Assis tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Rafael Moreira sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Álvaro Nogueira kicked well hit freekick during the 66th minute of the match. Rafael Moreira fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Xavier Assis having to interfere. Rui Aleixo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Castelo Branco FC getting a freekick after 74 minutes play. Basílio Valentim hit a great ball. The supporters of Pipeira booed when Castelo Branco FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Basílio Valentim didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 76 minutes, Álvaro Nogueira managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Pipeira's supporters crossed their fingers, but Álvaro Nogueira was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Castelo Branco FC's Manuel Salvado played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alexandre Moreira in the 78th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Basílio Valentim in the 81st minute of play forced Pipeira's goalkeeper Xavier Assis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Xavier Assis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rafael Moreira in the 85th minute of the match. Manuel Salvado took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alexandre Moreira, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Álvaro Nogueira sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 94 minutes into the match, Pipeira's Alexandre Moreira sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Manuel Salvado narrowly saved just below the crossbar. A collision led to Pipeira getting a freekick after 96 minutes play. Alexandre Moreira hit a great ball. Castelo Branco FC's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.