League Play-Off

Degracias
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Sandro Braga started the match with the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Jorge Zambujal managed to get in a good position for a shot. SLBacktown's supporters rose to their feet, but Jorge Zambujal was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cândido Araújo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a defensive mix-up in Degracias FC's zone, Sandro Braga stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cândido Araújo came out of the goal and Sandro Braga tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 7th minute Sandro Braga shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cândido Araújo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Jorge Zambujal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 9th minute. Cândido Araújo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cândido Araújo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Sandro Braga, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Sandro Braga in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Cândido Araújo prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Nuno Ribeiro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hélio Raminhos charged in rather forcefully in the 22nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Hélio Raminhos the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 22 played minutes SLBacktown got a freekick which was hit by Hélio Raminhos. In the 24thth minute of the game Nuno Ribeiro who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but SLBacktown's Bruno Matias was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 31 played minutes SLBacktown got a freekick which was hit by Normando Coimbra. In the 39th minute, Nuno Ribeiro fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. If Carlos Oliveira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Diamantino Moura fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bruno Matias having to interfere. SLBacktown's Bruno Matias proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 48th minute of the match, managed to save SLBacktown from getting a goal against them. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Nuno Ribeiro made a kick off. Jorge Zambujal could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 58th minute of the match, but Cândido Araújo made a huge save. Degracias FC's Cândido Araújo proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 59th minute of the match, managed to save Degracias FC from getting a goal against them. Nuno Ribeiro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Bruno Matias tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 68th match minute, Degracias FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Diamantino Moura to maneuver through the defense. In the 69thth minute of the game Sandro Braga who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Degracias FC's Cândido Araújo was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 72 minutes into the match, Carlos Oliveira had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Bruno Matias. SLBacktown's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Carlos Oliveira was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. 79 minutes into the match, Degracias FC's goalkeeper Cândido Araújo had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Jorge Zambujal. In the 81st match minute, Degracias FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Francisco Faria to maneuver through the defense. Sandro Braga received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Cândido Araújo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Emanuel Figueiredo was shown his second yellow card after 84 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 84th minute, Emanuel Figueiredo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Bruno Matias took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Carlos Oliveira, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Sandro Braga came up free with the goalie in the 91st minute, the SLBacktown 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 Sandro Braga couldn't finish the play. After having played for 96 minutes, Carlos Oliveira managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Degracias FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carlos Oliveira was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Degracias FC's supporters were highly satisfied with the result. They cheered their team of the pitch, having watched them win a very even match.