League Play-Off

Estadio Gondiao
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Cláudio Ferro kicked off to start the match. In the 6th minute, Joaquim Silva hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Cláudio Ferro in the 9th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Gonçalo Leite prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Eusébio Soares might have been able to make a better finish in the 13th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gonçalo Leite. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Eusébio Soares ran back to his position shaking his head. Everyone was convinced a goal was close when SC Gondiao's Cláudio Ferro in the 15th minute lifted the ball towards the upper right corner, but Gonçalo Leite was perfectly placed and prevented a goal for Estremoz through an amazing save. Cláudio Ferro might have been able to make a better finish in the 22nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Gonçalo Leite. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Cláudio Ferro ran back to his position shaking his head. Eusébio Soares who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 26thth minute tested the skills of Gonçalo Leite when he managed to save the team from getting behind. After a defensive mix-up in SC Gondiao's zone, Vítor Pinho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Vasco Morais came out of the goal and Vítor Pinho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After having played for 36 minutes, Eusébio Soares managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Gondiao's supporters crossed their fingers, but Eusébio Soares was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 37 minutes into the match, SC Gondiao's Cláudio Ferro sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gonçalo Leite narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The supporters of Estremoz booed when SC Gondiao was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 41 match minutes in a wonderful position. Mariano Pereira didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 44 minutes SC Gondiao's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Delfim Leão who took care of the corner kick. The corner ended in Delfim Leão almost managing to get the ball behind the net, but SC Gondiao's Vasco Morais did a great save. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Vítor Pinho made a kick off. If Eusébio Soares had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 53rd minute Cláudio Ferro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gonçalo Leite saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. João Resende charged in rather forcefully in the 54th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed João Resende the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 55 minutes of play, SC Gondiao's Eusébio Soares made it 1-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Gonçalo Leite was left in no man's land by his defense there! Gonçalo Leite showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Eusébio Soares in the 62nd minute of the match. With a little luck, SC Gondiao's Vasco Morais got control of the ball when José Gonçalves tried to sneak it across the goal line. Vasco Morais made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vítor Pinho in the 66th minute of play. Vítor Pinho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vasco Morais having to interfere. Vítor Pinho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Eusébio Soares received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Gonçalo Leite tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If José Gonçalves had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 78 played minutes SC Gondiao got a freekick which was hit by Mariano Pereira. After a defensive mix-up in Estremoz's zone, Miguel Carneiro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gonçalo Leite came out of the goal and Miguel Carneiro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gonçalo Leite took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cláudio Ferro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Vasco Morais acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 86th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Joaquim Silva. A collision led to SC Gondiao getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Amílcar Freitas hit a great ball. After 91 played minutes, Estremoz's Delfim Leão shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Vasco Morais came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Estremoz reached it. If Eusébio Soares had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Estremoz's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.