League Play-Off

Aramenha
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Lourenço Cunha got the match started through his kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 4th minute, João Assunção managed to get in a good position for a shot. Aramenha FC's supporters rose to their feet, but João Assunção was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gaspar Azevedo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 6th minute Alexandre Leal shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gaspar Azevedo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If João Assunção had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Santiais getting a freekick after 12 minutes play. Jaime Aleixo hit a great ball. After some careless play in the Aramenha FC defense, Manuel Brito kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Jaime Machado. The Aramenha FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Jaime Machado should have stopped the shot. Gaspar Dantas hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. Artur Magalhães's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Gaspar Azevedo read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 19th minute of play. João Assunçãos short, quick shot in the 23rdth minute got Gaspar Azevedo to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. An unexpected shot in the 24th minute by João Assunção got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. In the 26th minute, João Assunção left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Aramenha FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. When Jaime Aleixo fell near the penalty area in the 29th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Santiais's protests and gave Jaime Aleixo a yellow card for diving instead. The goalkeeper, Gaspar Azevedo, was totally fooled by Aramenha FC's Artur Magalhães, who 30 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. After 34 minutes of play, Santiais's Manuel Brito made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jaime Machado was left in no man's land by his defense there! Manuel Brito received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 41st minute. Jaime Machado tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. João Assunção fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gaspar Azevedo having to interfere.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Alexandre Leal to make the kick off. Alexandre Leal fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gaspar Azevedo having to interfere. After 59 minutes of play, Santiais's Manuel Brito made it 2-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Jaime Machado was left in no man's land by his defense there! When Alexandre Neto fell near the penalty area in the 62nd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Aramenha FC's protests and gave Alexandre Neto a yellow card for diving instead. Alexandre Neto kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Lourenço Cunha in the 64th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Jaime Machado prevented the ball from getting in the gole. When Santiais's Lourenço Cunha in the 64th minute got a chance for a shot 64th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Aramenha FC's goalie prevented a goal. After a defensive mix-up in Santiais's zone, João Assunção stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gaspar Azevedo came out of the goal and João Assunção tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of Aramenha FC booed when Santiais was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 71 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lourenço Cunha didn't get a good kick on the ball. With his leg Jaime Machado managed to avoid a goal in the 73rdth minute, when Santiais's Manuel Brito fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. When Xavier Moutinho fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Aramenha FC's protests and gave Xavier Moutinho a yellow card for diving instead. Xavier Moutinho kicked well hit freekick during the 74th minute of the match. Jaime Machado showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lourenço Cunha, who was totally free with the ball in the 93rd minute. The Santiais supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Santiais would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.