League Play-Off

Noninha
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) MC United's Joaquim Neto 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. When Delfim Freitas came up free with the goalie in the 2nd minute, the Taipa 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 Delfim Freitas couldn't finish the play. MC United's Rogério Figueiredo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Marco Viana in the 7th minute of play. After having played for 9 minutes, Delfim Freitas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Taipa's supporters crossed their fingers, but Delfim Freitas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 10th match minute, MC United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Paulo Antunes to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Xavier Gomes in the 12th minute of play forced MC United's goalkeeper Rogério Figueiredo to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. José Coelho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 14th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jaime Araújo having to interfere. 17 minutes into the game, Taipa's Xavier Gomes nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Rogério Figueiredo made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. Rogério Figueiredo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Delfim Freitas in the 20th minute of play. After having played for 23 minutes, José Coelho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. MC United's supporters crossed their fingers, but José Coelho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Delfim Freitas scored 0-2 in the 25th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Rogério Figueiredo, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 28th minute, Xavier Gomes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Rogério Figueiredo was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-3. In the 32nd minute, Xavier Gomes 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. Joaquim Neto sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Xavier Gomes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rogério Figueiredo having to interfere. MC United's Rogério Figueiredo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Xavier Gomes in the 39th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 40th minute, Delfim Freitas managed to get in a good position for a shot. Taipa's supporters rose to their feet, but Delfim Freitas was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rogério Figueiredo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The supporters of MC United booed when Taipa was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 47 match minutes in a wonderful position. Marco Viana didn't get a good kick on the ball. Pedro Freitas kicked well hit freekick during the 50th minute of the match. The long shot by Sebastião Macedo in the 51st minute really tested Jaime Araújo's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Delfim Freitas to make the kick off. After a rather tough play, Taipa's Jaime Monteiro got a free kick in the 55th minute. If José Coelho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Pedro Freitas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 65th minute the ball was on its way in behind MC United's goalkeeper Rogério Figueiredo, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Jaime Araújo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from José Coelho in the 66th minute of play. Humberto Silva's late challenge caught a Taipa's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Humberto Silva helped the player get up and apologised. Humberto Silva hit a great freekick 68 minutes into the match. Delfim Freitas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rogério Figueiredo having to interfere. Xavier Gomes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 76th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Delfim Freitas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Jaime Araújo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from José Coelho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Delfim Freitas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rogério Figueiredo having to interfere. Jaime Araújo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from José Coelho in the 85th minute of the match. A collision led to Taipa getting a freekick after 87 minutes play. Pedro Freitas hit a great ball. The audience was convinced that Delfim Freitas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rogério Figueiredo was relentless in the 94th minute of the game. A collision led to Taipa getting a freekick after 97 minutes play. Jaime Monteiro hit a great ball.