League Play-Off

Arouca
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. André Matias started the match with the kick off. A collision led to SC Taipadas getting a freekick after 2 minutes play. Américo Tavares hit a great ball. If Carlos Freitas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Carlos Freitas in the 13th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Artur Macedo prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 19 minutes of play, SC Taipadas's Carlos Freitas made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Artur Macedo was left in no man's land by his defense there! The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by André Matias during the 22nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. André Matias was extremely unlucky when he, in the 29th minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. In the 32nd minute, André Matias 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. In the 34thth minute of the game Carlos Freitas who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Arouca's Artur Macedo was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Arouca's Artur Macedo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Paulo Leal in the 37th minute of play. In the 40th minute, André Matias fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Carlos Freitas made a kick off. In the 54th minute, Carlos Ramos 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. Alexandre Nunes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from André Matias, who was totally free with the ball in the 58th minute. Carlos Freitas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Artur Macedo having to interfere. 63 minutes into the match, SC Taipadas's goal looked a bit too open when André Matias came free, but Alexandre Nunes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 65th minute, André Matias managed to get in a good position for a shot. Arouca's supporters rose to their feet, but André Matias was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alexandre Nunes breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Artur Macedo was a little too slow when Américo Tavares got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 72nd minute. The score was now 1-2. Artur Macedo didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 76th minute, which inside left pole to 1-3. 80 minutes into the game, Bernardo Alves was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Arouca's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave SC Taipadas the free kick. The supporters of SC Taipadas booed when Arouca was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 80 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bernardo Alves didn't get a good kick on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 82nd minute, Américo Tavares managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Taipadas's supporters rose to their feet, but Américo Tavares was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Artur Macedo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Artur Macedo showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlos Freitas in the 84th minute of the match. Alexandre Nunes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Carlos Ramos in the 89th minute of the match. Alexandre Nunes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Bernardo Alves in the 92nd minute of the match. Américo Tavares might have been able to make a better finish in the 93rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Artur Macedo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Américo Tavares ran back to his position shaking his head. Carlos Ramos recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 94th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 96 minutes into the match, SC Taipadas's goal looked a bit too open when André Matias came free, but Alexandre Nunes reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A collision led to SC Taipadas getting a freekick after 97 minutes play. Paulo Leal hit a great ball. The SC Taipadas players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.