League Play-Off

Avanca
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. Vítor Menezes started the match with the kick off. After a rather tough play, Palmeiras's Afonso Nogueira got a free kick in the 3rd minute. In the 5th minute, Joel Almeida made a precise shot to the right of Júlio Macieira. Avanca FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. Manuel Pedroso struck a weak shot in the 9th minute. Júlio Macieira didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Palmeiras. The audience was convinced that Joel Almeida's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Júlio Macieira was relentless in the 10th minute of the game. Vítor Menezes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Simão Sousa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 14th minute, Joaquim Azevedo hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Norberto Carvalheira came up free with the goalie in the 16th minute, the Avanca FC 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 Norberto Carvalheira couldn't finish the play. Vítor Menezes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Norberto Carvalheira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The audience was convinced that Manuel Pedroso's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Júlio Macieira was relentless in the 28th minute of the game. When Palmeiras's Joel Almeida in the 30th minute got a chance for a shot 30th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Avanca FC's goalie prevented a goal. In the 31st match minute, Avanca FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Simão Amaro to maneuver through the defense. Palmeiras's Joel Almeida got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Júlio Macieira made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Almeida in the 37th minute of play. Vítor Menezes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Simão Sousa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 41st minute of play. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-1.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Joel Almeida stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the match, Palmeiras's goal looked a bit too open when Nuno Nogueira came free, but Simão Sousa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Palmeiras's Simão Sousa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Vítor Menezes in the 55th minute of play. If Mário Almeida had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 59th match minute, Avanca FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by André Saldanha to maneuver through the defense. After having played for 66 minutes, Manuel Pedroso managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Palmeiras's supporters crossed their fingers, but Manuel Pedroso was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Avanca FC's Vítor Menezes in the 73rd minute got a chance for a shot 73rd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Palmeiras's goalie prevented a goal. Norberto Carvalheira fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Simão Sousa having to interfere. 82 minutes into the game, Vítor Menezes cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Simão Sousa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Palmiro Malheiro hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. After recieving a nice pass, Palmeiras's Rodrigo Soares tried to score from far away in the 87th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. A collision led to Avanca FC getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Américo Malta hit a great ball. When Nuno Nogueira fell near the penalty area in the 93rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Avanca FC's protests and gave Nuno Nogueira a yellow card for diving instead. Norberto Carvalheira sent away a hard shot on goal in the 97th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.