League Play-Off

Agriao
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Augusto Freitas started the match with the kick off. 6 minutes into the game, Duarte Domingues was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Agriao FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mercador the free kick. In the 7th match minute, Agriao FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Duarte Domingues to maneuver through the defense. Nuno Mota showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from António Delgado in the 8th minute of the match. António Dias's late challenge caught a Mercador's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. António Dias helped the player get up and apologised. After 12 played minutes, Mercador's Rui Ramos shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Nuno Mota came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Mercador reached it. Pedro Melo 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. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Pedro Melo in the 19th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Heitor Macedo prevented the ball from getting in the gole. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Pedro Melo in the 24th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Heitor Macedo saved Mercador from getting behind. 34 minutes into the game, Mercador's António Delgado nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Nuno Mota made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Augusto Freitas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Nuno Mota tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Agriao FC's Pedro Melo, in the 42nd minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Agriao FC. If Augusto Freitas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-1 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Pedro Melo stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Manuel Baptista kicked well hit freekick during the 51st minute of the match. Mercador's Vítor Henriques was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Nuno Mota in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. António Delgado sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Heitor Macedo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pedro Melo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nuno Mota made an important save on a dangerous shot by António Delgado in the 65th minute. In the 74th minute, António Delgado got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Nuno Mota made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Augusto Freitas in the 81st minute of play. Amadeu Amaral blasted a shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Heitor Macedo having to make a save. After having played for 86 minutes, Pedro Melo managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Agriao FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Pedro Melo was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in Mercador's zone, Pedro Melo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Heitor Macedo came out of the goal and Pedro Melo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The corner led Mercador's Rui Ramos to fire away a dangerous shot which Nuno Mota despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Mercador's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.