League Play-Off

Estadio Palao
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Gabriel Cruz got the match started through his kick off. In the 2nd minute, Xavier Brás left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Palao fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-0. Filipe Vale sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Vicente Freitas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gabriel Cruz fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Raul Fernandes having to interfere. 22 minutes into the match, Xavier Brás dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of José Ribeiro, 2-0. Xavier Brás fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 27th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without José Ribeiro having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in SC Braga's zone, Xavier Brás stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. José Ribeiro came out of the goal and Xavier Brás tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 39th match minute, SC Braga was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Carlos Macedo to maneuver through the defense. João Oliveira, 40 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Filipe Vale got free with José Ribeiro in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Carlos Macedo during the 44th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to SC Braga getting a freekick after 44 minutes play. Carlos Macedo hit a great ball. In the 47th minute Xavier Brás shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but José Ribeiro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 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 2-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Xavier Brás made a kick off. Thanks to some nice moves Vicente Freitas could shoot a difficult shot in the 55th minute, which Raul Fernandes however easily saved by the left post. After 56 played minutes Palao got a freekick which was hit by Cláudio Queirós. Gabriel Cruz received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Raul Fernandes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 60 played minutes Palao got a freekick which was hit by João Assunção. During the 62nd minute of the match João Assunção completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave João Assunção a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. João Assunção kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. SC Braga were awarded a corner in the 65th minute after Palao's defender lost control of the ball, allowing it to roll out over the line. João Valente took the corner. A well-hit corner resulted in Abel Lisboa heading the ball towards the goal, but to his dismay he misdirected it and missed the goal completely. After some fancy dribbling in the 71st minute, Gabriel Cruz managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Braga's supporters rose to their feet, but Gabriel Cruz was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Raul Fernandes breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 73 minutes into the match, Vicente Freitas had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Raul Fernandes. Palao's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Vicente Freitas was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. 76 minutes into the match, Gabriel Cruz notched a goal, 2-2, to the right of Palao's Raul Fernandes. Raul Fernandes was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Gabriel Cruz's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Raul Fernandes read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 81st minute of play. With a little luck, Palao's Raul Fernandes got control of the ball when Vicente Freitas tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Vicente Freitas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.