League Play-Off

Covilha
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Amílcar Rodrigues took the kick off in the first half of the match. Jack Billock fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Tavares having to interfere. When Delfim Magalhães fell near the penalty area in the 6th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Balsemao's protests and gave Delfim Magalhães a yellow card for diving instead. In the 6th match minute, SC Balsemao was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Delfim Magalhães to maneuver through the defense. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Amílcar Rodrigues in the 7th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Tavares saved SC Balsemao from getting behind. In the 9th match minute, SC Balsemao was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Emanuel Moura to maneuver through the defense. In the 10th match minute, SC Balsemao was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Alfredo Correia to maneuver through the defense. When Miguel Nogueira fell near the penalty area in the 16th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Balsemao's protests and gave Miguel Nogueira a yellow card for diving instead. In the 23rd minute Emanuel Moura shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but António Martins saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of SC Balsemao booed when SC Covilha was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 24 match minutes in a wonderful position. Américo Barbosa didn't get a good kick on the ball. Amílcar Rodrigues sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 39th minute the ball was on its way in behind SC Balsemao's goalkeeper Marco Tavares, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. António Martins showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Filipe Soares in the 43rd minute of the match. SC Covilha's António Martins played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Filipe Soares in the 45th minute of play. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

SC Covilha made a substitution. Alexandre Dias replaced Américo Barbosa. The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Filipe Soares stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Amílcar Rodrigues in the 55th minute of play forced SC Balsemao's goalkeeper Marco Tavares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. António Martins showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Filipe Soares in the 60th minute of the match. António Martins showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Alfredo Correia, who was totally free with the ball in the 62nd minute. 64 minutes into the match, SC Covilha's goal looked a bit too open when Filipe Soares came free, but António Martins reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Amílcar Rodrigues in the 65th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Marco Tavares saved SC Balsemao from getting behind. After a rather tough play, SC Balsemao's Filipe Soares got a free kick in the 67th minute. After 69 minutes of play, SC Covilha's Amílcar Rodrigues made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Marco Tavares was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a rather tough play, SC Covilha's Sérgio Amaral got a free kick in the 76th minute. Marco Tavares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Amílcar Rodrigues, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. 80 minutes into the game, Alfredo Correia was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. SC Balsemao's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave SC Covilha the free kick. After having played for 83 minutes, Eduardo Sousa managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Covilha's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eduardo Sousa was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. António Martins made an important save on a dangerous shot by Emanuel Moura in the 85th minute. Marco Tavares took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eduardo Sousa, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After 89 minutes, Carlos Borges mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the SC Balsemao and the SC Covilha players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 92 played minutes SC Balsemao got a freekick which was hit by Alfredo Correia. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eduardo Sousa in the 95th minute of play forced SC Balsemao's goalkeeper Marco Tavares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 96 minutes into the match, SC Covilha's goal looked a bit too open when Filipe Soares came free, but António Martins reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eduardo Sousa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 97th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Marco Tavares having to interfere. For all the effort they put into the match, the SC Balsemao players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for SC Covilha.