League Play-Off

Estadio Azelhal
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Rui Porto got the match started through his kick off. In the 5th minute the ball was on its way in behind SC Aljurica's goalkeeper Diogo Leiria, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 9 minutes into the match, Azelhal FC's goal looked a bit too open when Rui Porto came free, but Raul Branco reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 13 played minutes Azelhal FC got a freekick which was hit by André Rocha. 14 minutes into the match, SC Aljurica's Rui Neto broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. If Catarino Resende had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Pedro Gomes during the 19th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 20th minute, Pedro Gomes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Sandro Correia was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 21 minutes into the match. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 21st minute of the game. One of SC Aljurica:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Azelhal FC:s goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 29th minute, André Valente managed to get in a good position for a shot. Azelhal FC's supporters rose to their feet, but André Valente was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Diogo Leiria breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. SC Aljurica's Lourenço Correia got a good chance for a goal in the 31st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Lourenço Correia fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Raul Branco having to interfere. When Catarino Resende came up free with the goalie in the 40th minute, the Azelhal 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 Catarino Resende couldn't finish the play. If André Valente had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Diogo Leiria made a fantastic save in the 44th minute, when André Valente sent off a good shot on target. When Augusto Almeida fell near the penalty area in the 45th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Aljurica's protests and gave Augusto Almeida a yellow card for diving instead. In the 45th minute, Augusto Almeida hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 46th minute, André Valente 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. André Valente sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Catarino Resende to make the kick off. If André Valente had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Lourenço Correia had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Azelhal FC's zone, Lourenço Correia stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Raul Branco came out of the goal and Lourenço Correia tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 66 minutes, André Valente managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Azelhal FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but André Valente was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Diogo Leiria made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from André Valente in the 67th minute of play. Lourenço Correia struck a weak shot in the 69th minute. Raul Branco didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SC Aljurica. Lourenço Correia recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 72nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Diogo Leiria made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from André Valente in the 76th minute of play. SC Aljurica's Diogo Leiria played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Catarino Resende in the 77th minute of play. Diogo Leiria didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Catarino Resende went, in the 77th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. Catarino Resende received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Diogo Leiria tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Azelhal FC booed when SC Aljurica was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 88 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hugo Andrade didn't get a good kick on the ball. Catarino Resende fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 90th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Diogo Leiria having to interfere. André Valente sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Azelhal FC had won after a very even match.