League Play-Off

Mendo
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Pedro Delgado kicked off to start the match. David Paiva's late challenge caught a Pianos's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. David Paiva helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Mendo FC getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. David Paiva hit a great ball. Jorge Vale sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Oliveira Tavares during the 11th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Mendo FC getting a freekick after 11 minutes play. Oliveira Tavares hit a great ball. Jorge Vale struck a weak shot in the 12th minute. Cândido Branco didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Pianos. In the 19th minute of the match Afonso Martins shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Cândido Branco showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Cândido Branco showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pedro Delgado in the 21st minute of the match. Artur Pinho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 22nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Oliveira Lima having to interfere. When David Paiva was, once again, overly rough in his play he received his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. 23 minutes had been played. Cândido Branco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Pedro Delgado, who was totally free with the ball in the 25th minute. Jorge Vale received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Cândido Branco tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If António Cardoso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Cândido Branco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jorge Vale in the 38th minute of play. 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.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Artur Pinho was the one to do the kick off. Mendo FC's Artur Pinho got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Rafael Rocha fell near the penalty area in the 58th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mendo FC's protests and gave Rafael Rocha a yellow card for diving instead. Rafael Rocha kicked well hit freekick during the 58th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Jorge Vale got free with Cândido Branco in the 59th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. If Jorge Vale had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 64 minutes into the match, Jorge Vale notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Mendo FC's Cândido Branco. Cândido Branco was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Cândido Branco took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pedro Delgado, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Artur Pinho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Oliveira Lima took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Basílio Mendes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Pianos's Oliveira Lima played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Artur Pinho in the 81st minute of play. After 83 minutes of play, Mendo FC's Artur Pinho made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Oliveira Lima was left in no man's land by his defense there! A collision led to Pianos getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Pedro Delgado hit a great ball. In the 94th minute of the match, Jorge Vale got a very nice opportunity to score, but Cândido Branco was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Cândido Branco made a fantastic save in the 97th minute, when Jorge Vale sent off a good shot on target. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.