League Play-Off

Giao
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, 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. Gonçalo Gueifão started the match with the kick off. When Paulo Matos came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the Secorio FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Paulo Matos couldn't finish the play. In the 5th minute, Paulo Matos ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Manuel Ribeiro was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-1. Giao FC's Manuel Ribeiro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paulo Matos in the 9th minute of play. With a little luck, Secorio FC's Rafael Nunes got control of the ball when Artur Fonseca tried to sneak it across the goal line. David Trindade hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. Gonçalo Gueifão struck a weak shot in the 20th minute. Rafael Nunes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Giao FC. Paulo Matos took the ball and in the 23 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Manuel Ribeiro. Manuel Ribeiro dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-2. 31 minutes into the game, António Melo cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-3. Manuel Ribeiro was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. When Rafael Maia fell near the penalty area in the 33rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Secorio FC's protests and gave Rafael Maia a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Giao FC booed when Secorio FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rafael Maia didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Rafael Maia was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 37 minutes had been played. In the 39th minute Gonçalo Gueifão shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rafael Nunes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. António Assunção charged in rather forcefully in the 43rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed António Assunção the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The referee gave Secorio FC a penalty, 44 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by David Trindade, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Giao FC's Manuel Ribeiro. 0-4.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell António Melo to make the kick off. Paulo Santos kicked well hit freekick during the 59th minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Artur Fonseca in the 61st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rafael Nunes saved Secorio FC from getting behind. Gonçalo Gueifão sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Manuel Ribeiro showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paulo Matos in the 74th minute of the match. Giao FC's Artur Fonseca got a good chance for a goal in the 76th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 78 minutes into the game, Secorio FC's António Melo nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Manuel Ribeiro made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-5. Giao FC's Manuel Ribeiro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paulo Matos in the 82nd minute of play. A collision led to Giao FC getting a freekick after 83 minutes play. Gonçalo Gueifão hit a great ball. 84 minutes into the match, Secorio FC's goal looked a bit too open when Artur Fonseca came free, but Rafael Nunes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Artur Fonseca blasted a shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Rafael Nunes having to make a save. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. Secorio FC walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.