League Play-Off

José Alvalade XXI
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) SC Balada's Pedro Mendes 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. In the 3rd minute Rui Sá shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eliseu Madruga saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 4 minutes into the game, one of Sporting Clube Portugal:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Gustavo Gueifão received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Eliseu Madruga tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Gustavo Gueifão recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 18th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. When SC Balada's Pedro Mendes in the 20th minute got a chance for a shot 20th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Sporting Clube Portugal's goalie prevented a goal. Eliseu Madruga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rui Sá, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Gustavo Gueifão fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 24th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eliseu Madruga having to interfere. Pedro Mendes struck a weak shot in the 26th minute. Eliseu Madruga didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SC Balada. 30 minutes into the match, SC Balada's Gustavo Gueifão sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eliseu Madruga narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After 33 minutes, Pedro Mendes made it 0-2 with a short kick to the right side. Sporting Clube Portugal's Eliseu Madruga tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Eliseu Madruga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Rui Sá in the 41st minute of the match. Eliseu Madruga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rui Sá, who was totally free with the ball in the 46th minute. The audience was convinced that Pedro Mendes's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eliseu Madruga was relentless in the 47th minute of the game.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Ivo Medeiros stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the game, Gustavo Gueifão recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Eliseu Madruga. Gustavo Gueifão showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 0-3. When Pedro Mendes came up free with the goalie in the 58th minute, the SC Balada 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 Pedro Mendes couldn't finish the play. After having played for 60 minutes, Pedro Mendes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Balada's supporters crossed their fingers, but Pedro Mendes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 66 minutes into the match, Sporting Clube Portugal's goal looked a bit too open when Pedro Mendes came free, but Eliseu Madruga reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In a very dangerous position, a player in Sporting Clube Portugal fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 67th minute. Penalty! Eliseu Madruga had in the 69thth minute some difficulties stopping Amílcar Amaro's well aimed penalty as it nearly passed him on his left side, but he still managed to hold the ball. Rui Sá sent away a hard shot on goal in the 72nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Sporting Clube Portugal's Eliseu Madruga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pedro Mendes in the 74th minute of play. With a little luck, Sporting Clube Portugal's Eliseu Madruga got control of the ball when Gustavo Gueifão tried to sneak it across the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Sporting Clube Portugal's zone, Gustavo Gueifão stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eliseu Madruga came out of the goal and Gustavo Gueifão tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 88th minute of the match, Pedro Mendes tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Eliseu Madruga saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Eliseu Madruga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pedro Mendes in the 96th minute of the match. Pedro Mendes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 98th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eliseu Madruga having to interfere. SC Balada played a much better game than Sporting Clube Portugal and deserved their victory. The Sporting Clube Portugal players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.