League Play-Off

Estadio Xabregas
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when David Leiria made the kick off which started today's match. Gonçalo Guerreiro struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Emílio Lemos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Xabregas. The supporters of Xabregas booed when CD NACIONAL was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Valentim Oliveira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Emílio Lemos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from David Leiria in the 8th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by David Leiria in the 10th minute of play forced CD NACIONAL's goalkeeper Emílio Lemos to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 17th minute, Jorge Pereira 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. In the 21st minute the ball was on its way in behind Xabregas's goalkeeper Mariano Teixeira, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 23rd match minute, Xabregas was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rafael Moura to maneuver through the defense. Dimas Ramalho was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 24th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. In the 26th minute, Simão Brito hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Altino Falcão kicked well hit freekick during the 28th minute of the match. Emílio Lemos made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gonçalo Guerreiro in the 33rd minute. When David Leiria in the 34th play minute got the chance to kick a hard shot on goal from short distance neither the defense or Emílio Lemos kept up with the ball and suddenly the score was 1-0 when the ball slipped into goal inside the left pole. Gonçalo Guerreiro's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Emílio Lemos firmly grabbed it by the left post. David Leiria sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 48th minute, David Leiria 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. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Jorge Pereira made a kick off. After 54 played minutes, Xabregas's Vasco Dantas shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Emílio Lemos came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Xabregas reached it. After having played for 57 minutes, Gonçalo Guerreiro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Xabregas's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gonçalo Guerreiro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Emílio Lemos made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from David Leiria in the 59th minute of play. Emílio Lemos took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from David Leiria, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 66th minute David Leiria shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Emílio Lemos saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 68 minutes into the match, CD NACIONAL's goal looked a bit too open when Gonçalo Guerreiro came free, but Emílio Lemos reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Xabregas's zone, Alberto Pádua stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mariano Teixeira came out of the goal and Alberto Pádua tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Xabregas's defense didn't have a chance, in the 80th minute, when Jorge Pereira scored to the left of an out of position Mariano Teixeira, making the score, 2-2. After 85 minutes of play, Xabregas's Gonçalo Guerreiro made it 3-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Emílio Lemos was left in no man's land by his defense there! 91 minutes into the match, Miguel Cabral had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Mariano Teixeira. Xabregas's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Miguel Cabral was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-3. David Leiria struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Emílio Lemos didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Xabregas. 97 minutes into the game, Alberto Pádua was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. CD NACIONAL's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Xabregas the free kick. A collision led to CD NACIONAL getting a freekick after 97 minutes play. Alberto Pádua hit a great ball. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.