League Play-Off

Sisimbra
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Paulo Trindade took the kick off in the first half of the match. 3 minutes into the match, SC Sisimbra's goal looked a bit too open when Manuel Cabral came free, but Eduardo Aleixo reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to SC Sisimbra getting a freekick after 4 minutes play. Óscar Correia hit a great ball. In the 6th match minute, SC Sisimbra was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Óscar Correia to maneuver through the defense. When Paulo Trindade came up free with the goalie in the 11th minute, the Zebras 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 Trindade couldn't finish the play. Rodrigo Reis took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 19th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Amadeu Sousa. Zebras FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Eduardo Aleixo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Paulo Trindade in the 21st minute of the match. When Manuel Cabral came up free with the goalie in the 23rd minute, the Zebras 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 Manuel Cabral couldn't finish the play. António Resende could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 27th minute of the match, but Amadeu Sousa made a huge save. After a defensive mix-up in SC Sisimbra's zone, Paulo Trindade stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eduardo Aleixo came out of the goal and Paulo Trindade tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience was convinced that Manuel Cabral's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eduardo Aleixo was relentless in the 33rd minute of the game. Manuel Cabral received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 36th minute. Eduardo Aleixo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 39 minutes into the match, Zebras FC's Paulo Trindade sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eduardo Aleixo narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Eduardo Aleixo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Manuel Cabral, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If António Resende had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th 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 home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Nuno Maia was the one to do the kick off. When SC Sisimbra's Nuno Maia in the 59th minute got a chance for a shot 59th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Zebras FC's goalie prevented a goal. SC Sisimbra's António Resende got a good chance for a goal in the 60th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 62 minutes into the game, Manuel Cabral recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Eduardo Aleixo. Manuel Cabral showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-2. When Artur Campos fell near the penalty area in the 74th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Zebras FC's protests and gave Artur Campos a yellow card for diving instead. After 75 played minutes Zebras FC got a freekick which was hit by Artur Campos. After some fancy dribbling in the 80th minute, António Resende managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Sisimbra's supporters rose to their feet, but António Resende was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Amadeu Sousa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. An unexpectedly hard shot by António Resende in the 83rd minute of play forced Zebras FC's goalkeeper Amadeu Sousa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 86 played minutes SC Sisimbra got a freekick which was hit by Rodrigo Reis. After recieving a nice pass, Zebras FC's Armindo Dantas tried to score from far away in the 87th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. The audience thought a goal was coming when Manuel Cabral got free with Eduardo Aleixo in the 89th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. When Nuno Maia fell near the penalty area in the 90th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Sisimbra's protests and gave Nuno Maia a yellow card for diving instead. In the 91st minute, Óscar Correia hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Eduardo Aleixo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Paulo Trindade in the 96th minute of play. If Paulo Trindade had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Zebras FC eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.