League Play-Off

Bafana Bafana
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. Palmiro Moura started the match with the kick off. After having played for 8 minutes, Gregório Ferro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Nome ofensivo's supporters crossed their fingers, but Gregório Ferro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Miguel Calçada blasted a shot towards the goal in the 13th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Laércio Nunes having to make a save. In the 14th minute, Adelino Mourato hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Nome ofensivo getting a freekick after 19 minutes play. Igor Bentes hit a great ball. After recieving a nice pass, Amazulu's Jorge Alvarenga tried to score from far away in the 19th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Palmiro Moura's late challenge caught a Nome ofensivo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Palmiro Moura helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Nome ofensivo booed when Amazulu was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Palmiro Moura didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Gregório Ferro in the 27th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Israel Estrada prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Miguel Calçada sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Silvestre Palhares scored 0-1 in the 38th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Israel Estrada, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Palmiro Moura received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Laércio Nunes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Miguel Calçada struck a weak shot in the 47th minute. Laércio Nunes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Amazulu. After the first half Nome ofensivo were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Silvestre Palhares to make the kick off. Murilo Roriz charged in rather forcefully in the 53rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Murilo Roriz the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Palmiro Moura received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Laércio Nunes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Igor Bentes hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. If Palmiro Moura had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Israel Estrada was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Gregório Ferro showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 0-2 in the 65 minute of play. Palmiro Moura received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Laércio Nunes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After having played for 79 minutes, Silvestre Palhares managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Nome ofensivo's supporters crossed their fingers, but Silvestre Palhares was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Israel Estrada showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Silvestre Palhares, who was totally free with the ball in the 82nd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Miguel Calçada in the 84th minute of play forced Nome ofensivo's goalkeeper Laércio Nunes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Murilo Roriz hit a great freekick 85 minutes into the match. If Gregório Ferro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Miguel Calçada's late challenge caught a Nome ofensivo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Miguel Calçada helped the player get up and apologised. Vladimiro Abrantes's late challenge caught a Nome ofensivo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Vladimiro Abrantes helped the player get up and apologised. After 92 played minutes Amazulu got a freekick which was hit by Vladimiro Abrantes. Gregório Ferro blasted a shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Israel Estrada having to make a save. The Nome ofensivo supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Nome ofensivo would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.