League Play-Off

argivai city stadium
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Argivai FC's Fernando Coelho started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The supporters of Argivai FC booed when Matozinhos FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 4 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nuno Paredes didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ricardo Fernandes in the 9th minute of play forced Argivai FC's goalkeeper Francisco Almeida to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Francisco Almeida took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ricardo Fernandes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Matias Aguirre's late challenge caught a Matozinhos FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Matias Aguirre helped the player get up and apologised. Matozinhos FC's Sérgio Fernandes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fernando Coelho in the 17th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nuno Antunes in the 20th minute of play forced Argivai FC's goalkeeper Francisco Almeida to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 23rd minute António Sousa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Francisco Almeida saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 33 minutes, Fernando Coelho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Argivai FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Fernando Coelho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Matias Aguirre recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 35th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 37th minute, António Sousa 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. Francisco Almeida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ricardo Fernandes in the 44th minute of play. In the 45th minute, Matias Aguirre hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Américo Mendes kicked well hit freekick during the 47th minute of the match. The Argivai FC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Matozinhos FC were winning 0-2.

The wind increased when António Sousa made the kick off in the second half. It seemed to be an obvious goal in the 53rd minute, but Francisco Almeida got his fingers on the ball or the save, leaving Argivai FC hanging dry this time. After a rather tough play, Matozinhos FC's Nuno Antunes got a free kick in the 54th minute. Francisco Almeida showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from António Sousa, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. The supporters of Matozinhos FC booed when Argivai FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Matias Aguirre didn't get a good kick on the ball. Francisco Almeida was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Nuno Antunes showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 0-3 in the 62 minute of play. After 67 minutes of play, Argivai FC's Saturnino Henrico made it 1-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Sérgio Fernandes was left in no man's land by his defense there! Through an outstanding action, after 74 minutes, Francisco Almeida successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. With a little luck, Argivai FC's Francisco Almeida got control of the ball when Ricardo Fernandes tried to sneak it across the goal line. Matias Aguirre struck a weak shot in the 79th minute. Sérgio Fernandes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Argivai FC. The Argivai FC fans' excitement grew in the 81st match minute when Argivai FC's Fernando Coelho looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-3 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Francisco Almeida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from António Sousa in the 85th minute of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rui Lima got free with Francisco Almeida in the 86th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nuno Paredes got free with Francisco Almeida in the 90th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 91 minutes into the match, Argivai FC's goalkeeper Francisco Almeida had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Nuno Paredes. Argivai FC's Francisco Almeida proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 92nd minute of the match, managed to save Argivai FC from getting a goal against them. Francisco Almeida made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from António Sousa in the 97th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Nuno Paredes kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Francisco Almeida. That made the score 2-4 in the 98 minute of play. When the match was over Matozinhos FC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Argivai FC throughout the match.