League Play-Off

Estadio Azaruja
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Balteiro FC's Nuno Carvalho started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. When Pedro Setúbal came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the Balteiro 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 Pedro Setúbal couldn't finish the play. Nuno Carvalho scored 0-1 in the 4th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Joaquim Leite, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Pedro Setúbal in the 8th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Joaquim Leite prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Nuno Carvalho managed to get in a good position for a shot. Balteiro FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Nuno Carvalho was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Joaquim Leite breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a defensive mix-up in Azaruja's zone, Nuno Carvalho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Joaquim Leite came out of the goal and Nuno Carvalho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Pedro Setúbal fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Joaquim Leite having to interfere. After 17 played minutes Azaruja got a freekick which was hit by Cláudio Maia. Filipe Nascimento's late challenge caught a Balteiro FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Filipe Nascimento helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Balteiro FC booed when Azaruja was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Filipe Nascimento didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Pedro Setúbal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 25th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 26th minute, Carlos Araújo 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. 28 minutes into the match, Balteiro FC's Pedro Setúbal sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Joaquim Leite narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 35 minutes into the game, José Santarém was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Azaruja's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Balteiro FC the free kick. In the 35th match minute, Azaruja was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by José Santarém to maneuver through the defense. 43 minutes into the match, Carlos Araújo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Paulo Freitas. Balteiro FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Carlos Araújo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. During the 46th minute of the match José Santarém completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave José Santarém a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. In the 47th match minute, Azaruja was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by José Santarém to maneuver through the defense. 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.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Carlos Araújo to make the kick off. In the 54th minute Nuno Carvalho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Joaquim Leite saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 60th minute, Manuel Campos hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joaquim Leite showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nuno Carvalho, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. 64 minutes into the game, Balteiro FC's Nuno Carvalho nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Joaquim Leite made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-2. After a defensive mix-up in Balteiro FC's zone, Filipe Nascimento stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Paulo Freitas came out of the goal and Filipe Nascimento tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. With a little luck, Azaruja's Joaquim Leite got control of the ball when Pedro Setúbal tried to sneak it across the goal line. Pedro Setúbal was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 80th minute. Balteiro FC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 85th minute, Cláudio Maia managed to get in a good position for a shot. Azaruja's supporters rose to their feet, but Cláudio Maia was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Paulo Freitas breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 86th minute of the game. One of Balteiro FC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Azaruja:s goal. In the 89th minute there was a penalty for Azaruja. Manuel Campos stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Paulo Freitas. 2-2. Pedro Setúbal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 96th minute. Joaquim Leite tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 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.