League Play-Off

Velas
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Velas FC's Xavier Garcia 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. Marco Vale made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Xavier Garcia in the 6th minute of play. Lourenço Pacheco kicked well hit freekick during the 6th minute of the match. Paulo Simões could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 14th minute of the match, but Marco Vale made a huge save. With a little luck, SC Novelas's Marco Vale got control of the ball when Paulo Simões tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Paulo Simões had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Abel Rodrigues charged in rather forcefully in the 24th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Abel Rodrigues the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 24th match minute, SC Novelas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Abel Rodrigues to maneuver through the defense. During the 30th minute of the match Abel Rodrigues completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Abel Rodrigues a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. A collision led to SC Novelas getting a freekick after 30 minutes play. Abel Rodrigues hit a great ball. Diamantino Cruz came out of the goal in the 35th minute to try and stop a shot by SC Novelas's Raul Marques. But to his dismay, Raul Marques quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. In the 38th minute Raul Marques shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Diamantino Cruz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience thought a goal was coming when Oliveira Pires got free with Marco Vale in the 42nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Raul Marques was the one to do the kick off. The audience thought a goal was coming when Raul Marques got free with Diamantino Cruz in the 54th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Paulo Simões sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 63 minutes into the match, SC Novelas's goal looked a bit too open when Xavier Garcia came free, but Marco Vale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Amílcar Queirós received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 66th minute. Diamantino Cruz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. SC Novelas's Marco Vale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paulo Simões in the 68th minute of play. 71 minutes into the match, SC Novelas's Raul Marques sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Diamantino Cruz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Diamantino Cruz made a fantastic save in the 73rd minute, when Raul Marques sent off a good shot on target. After some fancy dribbling in the 79th minute, Paulo Simões managed to get in a good position for a shot. Velas FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Paulo Simões was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Vale breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. SC Novelas's Marco Vale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paulo Simões in the 81st minute of play. In the 83rd minute of the game, Eduardo Correia landed unfortunately after trying to head the ball, and pulled a muscle in the back, so badly that he had to leave the field. Amílcar Queirós charged in rather forcefully in the 83rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Amílcar Queirós the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 84th match minute, SC Novelas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Amílcar Queirós to maneuver through the defense. Paulo Simões received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Marco Vale tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Raul Marques sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 95 minutes, David Reis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Velas FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but David Reis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Marco Vale stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Paulo Simões's shot from short distance in the 97th minute. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. SC Novelas walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.