League Play-Off

Estadio Gataria
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Hugo Leão took the kick off in the first half of the match. Cláudio Vaz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Fábio Freire's shot from short distance in the 4th minute. If Tiago Lameirinhas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in SC Gataria's zone, Tiago Lameirinhas stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cláudio Vaz came out of the goal and Tiago Lameirinhas tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Humberto Azevedo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Jerónimo Lameiras tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 16 minutes into the game, Fábio Freire cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Cláudio Vaz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Tiago Lameirinhas took the ball and in the 19 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Cláudio Vaz. Cláudio Vaz 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. In the 28thth minute of the game Hugo Leão who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Sporting's Jerónimo Lameiras was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Américo Fontes hit a great freekick 33 minutes into the match. Sporting's Hermes Valadão couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 34th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for SC Gataria. After some fancy dribbling in the 39th minute, Humberto Azevedo managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Gataria's supporters rose to their feet, but Humberto Azevedo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jerónimo Lameiras breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The crowd rose to their feet as Hugo Leão kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Jerónimo Lameiras. That made the score 1-2 in the 42 minute of play. After the first half Sporting were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Fábio Freire made a kick off. If Fábio Freire had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hugo Leão fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jerónimo Lameiras having to interfere. In the 57th match minute, SC Gataria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Américo Fontes to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 63 minutes, Tiago Lameirinhas managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sporting's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tiago Lameirinhas was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 64 minutes into the match, SC Gataria's goal looked a bit too open when Fábio Freire came free, but Cláudio Vaz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 65th match minute, SC Gataria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nuno Coimbra to maneuver through the defense. Fábio Freire fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cláudio Vaz having to interfere. A collision led to SC Gataria getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Nuno Coimbra hit a great ball. Fábio Freire recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 78th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to SC Gataria getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Abel Borges hit a great ball. Alexandre Sesimbra's late challenge caught a SC Gataria's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alexandre Sesimbra helped the player get up and apologised. In the 83rd minute, Alexandre Sesimbra hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 89th minute Humberto Azevedo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jerónimo Lameiras saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A collision led to Sporting getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Abel Vilaverde hit a great ball. In the 92nd match minute, SC Gataria was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nuno Coimbra to maneuver through the defense. In the 93rd minute, Fábio Freire reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Cláudio Vaz. The goal made the score 1-3. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Sporting had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.