League Play-Off

Estadio Alheira
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Jesualdo Severiano got the match started through his kick off. After having played for 5 minutes, Marco Neto managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Alma Sporting Club's supporters crossed their fingers, but Marco Neto was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. After 6 played minutes SC Alheira got a freekick which was hit by Laureano Meireles. Laureano Nóbrega didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Marco Neto went, in the 11th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. In the 18th minute, one of SC Alheira:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for SC Alheira. Laureano Nóbrega made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from António Brás in the 23rd minute of play. If António Brás had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, SC Alheira's Nuno Noronha got a free kick in the 35th minute. Marco Neto sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 40 minutes into the match, SC Alheira's goal looked a bit too open when Bernardo Guerreiro came free, but Laureano Nóbrega reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to SC Alheira getting a freekick after 46 minutes play. Jesualdo Severiano hit a great ball.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Marco Neto to strike the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Higino Bento in the 52nd minute of play forced Alma Sporting Club's goalkeeper Américo Valente to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Marco Neto in the 56th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Laureano Nóbrega prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If António Brás had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The audience thought a goal was coming when António Brás got free with Laureano Nóbrega in the 69th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 70th match minute, SC Alheira was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Miguel Lustosa to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of SC Alheira booed when Alma Sporting Club was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 72 match minutes in a wonderful position. Rogério Maia didn't get a good kick on the ball. António Brás's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 77thth minute, Laureano Nóbrega skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 78th minute Higino Bento shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Américo Valente saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. António Brás fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Laureano Nóbrega having to interfere. Américo Valente showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Higino Bento, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. Higino Bento scored 2-3 in the 91st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Américo Valente, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Alma Sporting Club played a much better game than SC Alheira and deserved their victory. The SC Alheira players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.