League Play-Off

Contriz
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Duarte Trindade started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. If Gonçalo Moniz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 10th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Bruno Ribeiro came up free with the goalie in the 12th minute, the Lajes 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 Bruno Ribeiro couldn't finish the play. When Duarte Trindade came up free with the goalie in the 21st minute, the Contriz 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 Duarte Trindade couldn't finish the play. Contriz FC's Artur Abreu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by João Trindade in the 27th minute of play. Armindo Silva hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. After a defensive mix-up in Lajes's zone, Duarte Trindade stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Paulo Branco came out of the goal and Duarte Trindade tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Gonçalo Moniz got free with Paulo Branco in the 33rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 37th minute, João Trindade 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. After 38 played minutes Contriz FC got a freekick which was hit by Ricardo Oliveira. After some fancy dribbling in the 43rd minute, Duarte Trindade managed to get in a good position for a shot. Contriz FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Duarte Trindade was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Paulo Branco breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 45th minute, Gonçalo Moniz 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. If Gonçalo Moniz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The wind increased when João Trindade made the kick off in the second half. Armindo Baptista hit a great freekick 53 minutes into the match. Paulo Branco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Gonçalo Moniz in the 54th minute of play. Gonçalo Moniz recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 57th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 65 minutes into the match, Contriz FC's goalkeeper Artur Abreu had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Bruno Ribeiro. In the 72nd match minute, Lajes was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Miguel Pacheco to maneuver through the defense. If Duarte Trindade had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some careless play in the Lajes defense, Gonçalo Moniz kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Paulo Branco. The Lajes fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Paulo Branco should have stopped the shot. Contriz FC's Afonso Antunes took a good shot, in the 83rd minute, which hit the crossbar above Paulo Branco's head, and flew over the goal. Lajes's manager was very thankful on the sidelines as his team had managed to keep the ball out of the net after some serious pressure by Contriz FC. Contriz FC's Gonçalo Moniz got a good chance for a goal in the 85th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Miguel Pacheco fell near the penalty area in the 86th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Lajes's protests and gave Miguel Pacheco a yellow card for diving instead. Miguel Pacheco hit a great freekick 87 minutes into the match. In the 88th minute Gonçalo Moniz shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Paulo Branco saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. João Trindade sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. João Trindade received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 98th minute. Artur Abreu tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Contriz FC fans cheered their team off the field, for while Lajes had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.