League Play-Off

Toes
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Amadeu Barros kicked off to start the match. Mário Faria hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. When Amadeu Barros came up free with the goalie in the 7th minute, the Toes 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 Amadeu Barros couldn't finish the play. In the 9th minute Amadeu Barros shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Luís Assunção saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Xavier Branco's late challenge caught a Toes FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Xavier Branco helped the player get up and apologised. Xavier Branco hit a great freekick 11 minutes into the match. In the 14th minute, Américo Lima 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. 15 minutes into the match, Cruz FC's goal looked a bit too open when Amadeu Barros came free, but Luís Assunção reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 19th minute Amadeu Barros shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Luís Assunção saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 19 played minutes Cruz FC got a freekick which was hit by Xavier Branco. During the 21st minute of the match Xavier Branco completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Xavier Branco a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. A collision led to Cruz FC getting a freekick after 22 minutes play. Xavier Branco hit a great ball. Amadeu Barros struck a weak shot in the 23rd minute. Luís Assunção didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Toes FC. After 27 minutes, José Andrade mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cruz FC and the Toes FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Toes FC booed when Cruz FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 27 match minutes in a wonderful position. José Andrade didn't get a good kick on the ball. José Borges blasted a shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Miguel Melo having to make a save. Toes FC's Basílio Miranda got a good chance for a goal in the 41st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Luís Assunção made an important save on a dangerous shot by Américo Lima in the 43rd minute. Américo Lima received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Luís Assunção tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Hugo Azevedo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Miguel Melo having to interfere. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and José Borges made a kick off. If Américo Lima had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luís Assunção made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Amadeu Barros in the 58th minute of play. Thanks to some nice moves José Borges could shoot a difficult shot in the 59th minute, which Miguel Melo however easily saved by the left post. Américo Lima hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. Luís Assunção showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Américo Lima, who was totally free with the ball in the 66th minute. After 67 played minutes Cruz FC got a freekick which was hit by Mário Faria. In the 75th minute Amadeu Barros shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Luís Assunção saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. José Borges succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 0-1 in the 76th playminute. Amadeu Barros sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 87th match minute, Cruz FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by José Andrade to maneuver through the defense. In the 88th minute, Basílio Leão sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Cruz FC's Luís Assunção didn't even have to move. Luís Assunção made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Amadeu Barros in the 90th minute of play. José Borges struck a weak shot in the 91st minute. Miguel Melo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cruz FC. Cruz FC's Hugo Azevedo suffered a sore thigh after 92 minutes and couldn't finish the game. Joaquim Leal charged in rather forcefully in the 92nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Joaquim Leal the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 92nd minute, Joaquim Leal hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 95 played minutes Cruz FC got a freekick which was hit by José Andrade. Amadeu Barros fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Luís Assunção having to interfere. Cruz FC's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.