League Play-Off

Brincos
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Avenida's Manuel Leal 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. Fernando Freitas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Abel Martins tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Manuel Leal in the 8th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Abel Martins saved Brincos from getting behind. Manuel Leal might have been able to make a better finish in the 11th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Abel Martins. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Manuel Leal ran back to his position shaking his head. Brincos's Abel Martins played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Fernando Freitas in the 14th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Francisco Martins in the 18th minute of play forced Avenida's goalkeeper Cristiano Veiga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rui Trindade's late challenge caught a Brincos's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Rui Trindade helped the player get up and apologised. Rui Trindade kicked well hit freekick during the 19th minute of the match. Luís Nogueira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 20th minute. Cristiano Veiga tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 26th minute Fernando Freitas shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Abel Martins saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Manuel Leal received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Abel Martins tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Brincos booed when Avenida was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Paulo Gueifão didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 39th minute Alexandre Morais shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristiano Veiga saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 41 minutes into the match, Avenida's Fernando Freitas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Abel Martins narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 42 minutes into the match, Brincos's goal looked a bit too open when Manuel Leal came free, but Abel Martins reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Francisco Martins to make the kick off. Manuel Leal might have been able to make a better finish in the 52nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Abel Martins. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Manuel Leal ran back to his position shaking his head. Brincos's Abel Martins proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 57th minute of the match, managed to save Brincos from getting a goal against them. After a rather tough play, Brincos's Fernando Soares got a free kick in the 58th minute. In the 60th minute, Manuel Leal 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. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Domingos Antunes during the 61st minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Domingos Antunes hit a great freekick 61 minutes into the match. Fernando Freitas's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 63rdth minute, Abel Martins skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Cristiano Veiga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luís Nogueira in the 67th minute of the match. Fernando Freitas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abel Martins having to interfere. Luís Nogueira might have been able to make a better finish in the 76th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Cristiano Veiga. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Luís Nogueira ran back to his position shaking his head. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luís Nogueira in the 79th minute of play forced Avenida's goalkeeper Cristiano Veiga to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Cristiano Veiga made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Francisco Martins in the 81st minute of play. In the 81st match minute, Brincos was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Luís Nogueira to maneuver through the defense. Tiago Fernandes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 89th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After a rather tough play, Brincos's Fernando Soares got a free kick in the 90th minute. Fernando Freitas in the 91stth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Abel Martins, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Cristiano Veiga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Luís Nogueira, who was totally free with the ball in the 92nd minute. Alexandre Morais kicked well hit freekick during the 94th minute of the match. Avenida played a much better game than Brincos and deserved their victory. The Brincos players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.