League Play-Off

Palhais
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Gil Pinto got the match started through his kick off. Heitor Brás stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ricardo Mendes's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. Ricardo Mendes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 5th minute. Heitor Brás tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Carlos Abreu during the 5th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Carlos Abreu hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. After 7 played minutes SC Mamua got a freekick which was hit by António Esteves. When Inácio Andrade came up free with the goalie in the 12th minute, the SC Mamua 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 Inácio Andrade couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 14th minute, Lúcio Gaspar managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Mamua's supporters rose to their feet, but Lúcio Gaspar was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Afonso Cruz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Gil Pinto in the 17th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Heitor Brás saved SC Mamua from getting behind. Inácio Andrade recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 19th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 25th minute Gil Pinto shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Heitor Brás saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ricardo Mendes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Heitor Brás tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Heitor Brás didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 29th minute, which inside left pole to 1-0. Afonso Cruz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lúcio Gaspar, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to SC Mamua getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Carlos Maia hit a great ball. Gil Pinto received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Heitor Brás came out and tried to block the shot, but Gil Pinto slotted it home off the left post making it 2-0 in the 39th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Palhais FC's zone, Inácio Andrade stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Afonso Cruz came out of the goal and Inácio Andrade tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 49th minute, António Esteves 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. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-0.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Lúcio Gaspar made a kick off. SC Mamua's Inácio Andrade got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A collision led to Palhais FC getting a freekick after 56 minutes play. Eusébio Soares hit a great ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gil Pinto in the 61st minute of play forced SC Mamua's goalkeeper Heitor Brás to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 65 minutes into the match, SC Mamua's goal looked a bit too open when Gil Pinto came free, but Heitor Brás reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 69th minute the ball was on its way in behind Palhais FC's goalkeeper Afonso Cruz, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gil Pinto in the 71st minute of play forced SC Mamua's goalkeeper Heitor Brás to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 75 minutes into the match, SC Mamua's goal looked a bit too open when Gil Pinto came free, but Heitor Brás reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Palhais FC's Afonso Cruz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lúcio Gaspar in the 78th minute of play. In the 85th minute, SC Mamua's Inácio Andrade ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Afonso Cruz. Afonso Cruz yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-1. Ricardo Mendes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Heitor Brás tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 94 minutes into the match, SC Mamua's goal looked a bit too open when Gil Pinto came free, but Heitor Brás reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 96 minutes into the game, Inácio Andrade recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Afonso Cruz. Inácio Andrade showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 2-2. 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.