League Play-Off

Retaxo
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Eduardo Pereira started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. André Silva was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Afonso Lopes showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 2 minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in SC Mereces's zone, Catarino Gueifão stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. André Silva came out of the goal and Catarino Gueifão tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 8th minute, Afonso Lopes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. André Silva was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-0. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Eduardo Pereira in the 13th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Gabriel Porto saved Retaxo FC from getting behind. When the match had gone on for 13 minutes, Eduardo Pereira put it in 2-1 from a short distance just to the right of Gabriel Porto. Eduardo Pereira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Gabriel Porto tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Afonso Lopes could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 23rd minute of the match, but André Silva made a huge save. André Silva made an important save on a dangerous shot by Afonso Lopes in the 25th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Afonso Lopes got free with André Silva in the 28th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Eduardo Pereira recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 29th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Afonso Lopes's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 32ndth minute, André Silva skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. The first half was very even, with the score at 2-2 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Catarino Gueifão stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Afonso Lopes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without André Silva having to interfere. If Alfredo Barros had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nuno Freitas was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 63rd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Gabriel Porto took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alfredo Barros, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Afonso Lopes managed to get in a good position for a shot. Retaxo FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Afonso Lopes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. André Silva breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of Retaxo FC booed when SC Mereces was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Alexandre Castro didn't get a good kick on the ball. Gabriel Porto made a fantastic save in the 73rd minute, when Alfredo Barros sent off a good shot on target. After some fancy dribbling in the 75th minute, Eduardo Pereira managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Mereces's supporters rose to their feet, but Eduardo Pereira was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gabriel Porto breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 76th minute Alexandre Castro suffered a thigh injury and had to be helped off the field. António Luz hit a great freekick 77 minutes into the match. After 81 minutes, António Ferro mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Retaxo FC and the SC Mereces players grew even worse after the yellow card. In a very dangerous position, a player in Retaxo FC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 80th minute. Penalty! The referee gave SC Mereces a penalty, 82 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Vítor Neves, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Retaxo FC's Gabriel Porto. 2-3. If Afonso Lopes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to SC Mereces getting a freekick after 94 minutes play. Vítor Neves hit a great ball. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. SC Mereces walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.