League Play-Off

Estadio Chabouco
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) SC Merufe's Adolfo Matos started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The supporters of SC Merufe booed when Chabouco was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 7 match minutes in a wonderful position. Fernando Luz didn't get a good kick on the ball. Carlos Trindade took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Manuel Teixeira, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 10 played minutes, SC Merufe's Artur Araújo shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Carlos Trindade 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 SC Merufe reached it. In the 11th match minute, Chabouco was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Óscar Guarda to maneuver through the defense. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Adolfo Matos in the 13th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Carlos Trindade prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Chabouco's Carlos Trindade played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Manuel Teixeira in the 14th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Manuel Teixeira in the 19th minute of play forced Chabouco's goalkeeper Carlos Trindade to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Adolfo Matos scored 0-1 in the 21st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Carlos Trindade, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Abel Pacheco lost his temper 25 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. After 25 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Chabouco! After a defensive mix-up in SC Merufe's zone, Xavier Matias stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. José Dias came out of the goal and Xavier Matias tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. If Adolfo Matos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 40th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Adolfo Matos fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Trindade having to interfere. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 1-2.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Xavier Matias was the one to do the kick off. In the 52nd match minute, SC Merufe was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rodrigo Vieira to maneuver through the defense. 59 minutes into the game, Chabouco's Xavier Matias nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. José Dias made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. Bruno Matias fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without José Dias having to interfere. Joel Pinho hit a great freekick 66 minutes into the match. Chabouco's Xavier Matias got a good chance for a goal in the 67th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Adolfo Matos hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. In the 74th minute, Chabouco's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Adolfo Matos fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Adolfo Matos fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Carlos Trindade having to interfere. José Dias made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Xavier Matias in the 78th minute of play. After a rather tough play, SC Merufe's Joel Pinho got a free kick in the 81st minute. Carlos Trindade made a fantastic save in the 83rd minute, when Manuel Teixeira sent off a good shot on target. After a rather tough play, SC Merufe's Rodrigo Vieira got a free kick in the 87th minute. In the 95th minute, Xavier Matias left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Chabouco fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-2. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Chabouco fans cheered their team off the field, for while SC Merufe had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.