League Play-Off

Estadio Benavente
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Joel Leiria made the kick off which started today's match. After 8 minutes, João Torres mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Pauso FC and the Benavente players grew even worse after the yellow card. Raul Pinho could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 9th minute of the match, but João Leiria made a huge save. After some fancy dribbling in the 13th minute, Joel Leiria managed to get in a good position for a shot. Benavente's supporters rose to their feet, but Joel Leiria was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. João Leiria breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. A collision led to Pauso FC getting a freekick after 14 minutes play. João Torres hit a great ball. In the 15th minute, Rafael Magalhães hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. João Leiria showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joel Leiria, who was totally free with the ball in the 18th minute. 19 minutes into the match, Viriato Guerreiro had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Eusébio Nunes. Benavente's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Viriato Guerreiro was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Júlio Vale's late challenge caught a Benavente's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Júlio Vale helped the player get up and apologised. In the 25th minute, Júlio Vale hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 28th match minute, Pauso FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Rafael Magalhães to maneuver through the defense. 29 minutes into the match, Pauso FC's goalkeeper João Leiria had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Raul Pinho. In the 30th match minute, Pauso FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by João Torres to maneuver through the defense. The long shot by Vítor Guarda in the 31st minute really tested João Leiria's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. Eusébio Nunes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Viriato Guerreiro in the 34th minute of play. Hugo Fonseca sent away a hard shot on goal in the 35th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Viriato Guerreiro to make the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Viriato Guerreiro in the 53rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Eusébio Nunes saved Benavente from getting behind. Joel Leiria sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Viriato Guerreiro in the 58th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Eusébio Nunes prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Pauso FC's Hugo Fonseca got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Raul Pinho hit a great freekick 65 minutes into the match. 67 minutes into the game, Duarte Amaral was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Benavente's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Pauso FC the free kick. A collision led to Benavente getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Duarte Amaral hit a great ball. Júlio Vale missed a clear chance of a goal when in the 68 minute of the game fired away a shot, but unfortunally the ball went out to the Eusébio Nunes right hand side. During the 71st minute of the match Júlio Vale completely mistimed his tackle and brought down his opponent. The referee gave Júlio Vale a yellow card, his second in the match, which meant he could no longer take part in the game. João Leiria made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joel Leiria in the 73rd minute of play. Joel Leiria received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. João Leiria tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in Benavente's zone, Hugo Fonseca stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Eusébio Nunes came out of the goal and Hugo Fonseca tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Eusébio Nunes made a fantastic save in the 87th minute, when Hugo Fonseca sent off a good shot on target. Eusébio Nunes made an important save on a dangerous shot by Hugo Fonseca in the 90th minute. After having played for 91 minutes, Viriato Guerreiro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Pauso FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Viriato Guerreiro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Raul Pinho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without João Leiria having to interfere. After 95 minutes of play, Benavente's Raul Pinho made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. João Leiria was left in no man's land by his defense there! The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Benavente had won after a very even match.