League Play-Off

Espartosa
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) 13 minutes into the match, SC Gibraltar's goal looked a bit too open when Sérgio Cruz came free, but Henrique Vaz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Lourenço Teixeira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Sérgio Cruz in the 21st minute of play forced SC Gibraltar's goalkeeper Henrique Vaz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in SC Gibraltar's zone, Lourenço Teixeira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Henrique Vaz came out of the goal and Lourenço Teixeira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sérgio Cruz sent away a hard shot on goal in the 31st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. SC Gibraltar's Henrique Vaz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sérgio Cruz in the 39th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Afonso Cabral in the 43rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Daniel Fontes saved Espartosa from getting behind. When Espartosa's Sérgio Cruz in the 46th minute got a chance for a shot 46th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye SC Gibraltar's goalie prevented a goal. 47 minutes into the match, Afonso Cabral had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Daniel Fontes. Espartosa's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Afonso Cabral was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. After the first half SC Gibraltar were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Carlos Setúbal was the one to do the kick off. In the 56th minute Carlos Setúbal shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Daniel Fontes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 60 minutes, Lourenço Teixeira mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Espartosa and the SC Gibraltar players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Espartosa getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Lourenço Teixeira hit a great ball. If Carlos Setúbal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 70 minutes into the match, SC Gibraltar's goal looked a bit too open when Lourenço Teixeira came free, but Henrique Vaz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 70 minutes into the game, Lourenço Teixeira cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Henrique Vaz was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 77th minute, Afonso Cabral made a precise shot to the right of Daniel Fontes. Espartosa's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. In the 82nd minute, Daniel Torres hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Pedro Leiria fell near the penalty area in the 91st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Gibraltar's protests and gave Pedro Leiria a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to SC Gibraltar getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Pedro Leiria hit a great ball. After 94 minutes of play, Espartosa's Lourenço Teixeira made it 2-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Henrique Vaz was left in no man's land by his defense there! Henrique Vaz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sérgio Cruz in the 98th minute of play. Both teams had looked equal from kick-off, and no-one was surprised when the match finally ended in a draw.