League Play-Off

Estadio Casais
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Tomás Guarda took the kick off in the first half of the match. Alexandre Mota showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tomás Guarda, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. If Albertino Reis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience was convinced that Tomás Guarda's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Alexandre Mota was relentless in the 8th minute of the game. Tomás Guarda recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 17th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When the match clock showed 21 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Tomás Guarda sped through Casais's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Alexandre Mota. 24 minutes into the match, SC Estela's goal looked a bit too open when Raul Machado came free, but Alfredo Pedroso reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 27th minute Albertino Reis shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alexandre Mota saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Tomás Guarda in the 29th minute of play forced Casais's goalkeeper Alexandre Mota to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tomás Guarda in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alexandre Mota saved Casais from getting behind. Bernardo Borges's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Alfredo Pedroso read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 32nd minute of play. Alexandre Mota stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tomás Guarda's shot from short distance in the 34th minute. Raul Machado received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Alfredo Pedroso tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 40 minutes, Bernardo Borges mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Casais and the SC Estela players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 40th minute, Bernardo Borges hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Duarte Pinho during the 44th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 44 played minutes Casais got a freekick which was hit by Duarte Pinho. Albertino Reis's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Alexandre Mota read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 46th minute of play.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Raul Machado made a kick off. Albertino Reiss short, quick shot in the 53rdth minute got Alexandre Mota to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Raul Machado sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Joaquim Coimbra during the 60th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 60th match minute, SC Estela was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Joaquim Coimbra to maneuver through the defense. In the 61st minute of the match Inácio Tavares shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Alfredo Pedroso showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. 62 minutes into the match, SC Estela's goal looked a bit too open when Raul Machado came free, but Alfredo Pedroso reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Alfredo Pedroso took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Raul Machado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Raul Machado had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 76th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 77th minute, Joaquim Coimbra hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. SC Estela's Alfredo Pedroso played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Raul Machado in the 82nd minute of play. After having played for 85 minutes, Tomás Guarda managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Estela's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tomás Guarda was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched SC Estela eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.