League Play-Off

FantastiK ArenA
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. Bruno Assunção started the match with the kick off. With 7 minutes on the clock, Sebastião Sousa commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. After 6 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for FantastiK FC! 11 minutes into the match, FantastiK FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alexandrino Vilhena came free, but Diamantino Branco reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 13th minute, Alípio Esteves hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 18th minute, Alexandrino Vilhena 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nicolau Caldeira in the 20th minute of play forced FantastiK FC's goalkeeper Diamantino Branco to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. FantastiK FC's Rui Faro quite brazenly broke a throw-in by Laércio Corte-Real, made in the 22nd minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Sporting Clube Évora's Alípio Esteves got a free kick in the 24th minute. Bruno Assunção let the left foot speak when in front of goal in the 25th minute shot 1-1 at rihgt post. After some fancy dribbling in the 28th minute, Nicolau Caldeira managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sporting Clube Évora's supporters rose to their feet, but Nicolau Caldeira was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Diamantino Branco breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Bruno Assunção's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 30thth minute, Amado Rebocho skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. 31 minutes into the game, FantastiK FC's André Sá nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Amado Rebocho made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. After 35 played minutes FantastiK FC got a freekick which was hit by André Sá. 38 minutes into the match, FantastiK FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alexandrino Vilhena came free, but Diamantino Branco reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Diamantino Branco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alexandrino Vilhena, who was totally free with the ball in the 39th minute. Bruno Assunção might have been able to make a better finish in the 42nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Amado Rebocho. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Bruno Assunção ran back to his position shaking his head. Alexandrino Vilhena fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Diamantino Branco having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-1 at half-time.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Alexandrino Vilhena made a kick off. After a defensive mix-up in FantastiK FC's zone, Nicolau Caldeira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Diamantino Branco came out of the goal and Nicolau Caldeira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nicolau Caldeira got free with Diamantino Branco in the 55th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Diamantino Branco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alexandrino Vilhena in the 58th minute of play. In the 61st minute of the game Veríssimo Morais made a throw-in which Alexandre Trindade played forward. With an all-out effort, Sporting Clube Évora's Diamantino Branco threw himself towards the right post 78 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Alexandrino Vilhena, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Diamantino Branco didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Nicolau Caldeira went, in the 89th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-3 was the resulting score. Amado Rebocho made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bruno Assunção in the 94th minute of play. 97 minutes into the game, Alípio Esteves was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Sporting Clube Évora's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave FantastiK FC the free kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Bruno Assunção in the 99th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Amado Rebocho prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The Sporting Clube Évora supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Sporting Clube Évora would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.