League Play-Off

Couto
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Eduardo Figueiredo started the match with the kick off. In the 4th minute Humberto Ramos shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emanuel Cardoso saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 5th minute of the game. One of SC Frioes:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Couto:s goal. The goalkeeper, Emanuel Cardoso, was totally fooled by Couto's Rogério Aleixo, who 7 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. Carlos Esteves took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Raul Paiva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 11 minutes, Eduardo Figueiredo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Frioes's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eduardo Figueiredo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The audience was convinced that Humberto Ramos's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Emanuel Cardoso was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. Emanuel Cardoso was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 19th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Manuel Pinho. If Raul Paiva had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rui Machado fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Emanuel Cardoso having to interfere. Rui Machados short, quick shot in the 27thth minute got Emanuel Cardoso to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. After a defensive mix-up in SC Frioes's zone, Humberto Ramos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Emanuel Cardoso came out of the goal and Humberto Ramos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Emanuel Cardoso took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Humberto Ramos, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rui Machado received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Emanuel Cardoso tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Carlos Esteves showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Raul Paiva, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. Eduardo Figueiredo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 36th minute. Carlos Esteves tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Eduardo Figueiredo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Couto's zone, Raul Paiva stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Carlos Esteves came out of the goal and Raul Paiva tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Raul Paiva might have been able to make a better finish in the 44th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Carlos Esteves. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Raul Paiva ran back to his position shaking his head.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Humberto Ramos made a kick off. Eduardo Figueiredo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Esteves having to interfere. When SC Frioes's Eduardo Figueiredo in the 55th minute got a chance for a shot 55th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Couto's goalie prevented a goal. In the 58th minute, Raul Paiva made a precise shot to the right of Carlos Esteves. Couto's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. Carlos Esteves didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when SC Frioes's Eduardo Figueiredo shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 1-2 in the ordered_time% minute. Emanuel Cardoso made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Filipe Monteiro in the 67th minute of play. Raul Paiva recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 70th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. SC Frioes's Emanuel Cardoso played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rui Machado in the 72nd minute of play. 74 minutes into the game, SC Frioes's Raul Paiva nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Carlos Esteves made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-3. In the 80th minute Rui Machado shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emanuel Cardoso saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rui Machado sent away a hard shot on goal in the 82nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 83rd match minute, SC Frioes was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Carlos Marques to maneuver through the defense. Eduardo Figueiredo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 88th minute of the match, but Carlos Esteves made a huge save. Carlos Esteves made a fantastic save in the 90th minute, when Raul Paiva sent off a good shot on target. Carlos Marques hit a great freekick 90 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Humberto Ramos in the 94th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Emanuel Cardoso prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Emanuel Cardoso took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rui Machado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The SC Frioes supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing SC Frioes would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.