League Play-Off

Marruas
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. Duarte Veiga started the match with the kick off. After 4 played minutes, Marruas FC's Rui Carneiro shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Carlos Cunha 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 Marruas FC reached it. SC Alfena's defense didn't have a chance, in the 6th minute, when Nuno Ribeiro scored to the left of an out of position Carlos Cunha, making the score, 1-0. 10 minutes into the match, SC Alfena's goal looked a bit too open when Nuno Ribeiro came free, but Carlos Cunha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Carlos Cunha made a fantastic save in the 11th minute, when Tomás Vieira sent off a good shot on target. Carlos Cunha stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nuno Ribeiro's shot from short distance in the 16th minute. When SC Alfena's Alexandre Cruz in the 20th minute got a chance for a shot 20th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Marruas FC's goalie prevented a goal. Alexandre Cruz scored 1-1 in the 21st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Luís Oliveira, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 25 minutes into the match, SC Alfena's Alexandre Cruz sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Luís Oliveira narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Daniel Matias kicked well hit freekick during the 27th minute of the match. The supporters of Marruas FC booed when SC Alfena was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 28 match minutes in a wonderful position. Humberto Moura didn't get a good kick on the ball. 35 minutes into the match, Marruas FC's Nuno Ribeiro sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Carlos Cunha narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 40th minute of the match Rui Carneiro shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Carlos Cunha showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. A collision led to SC Alfena getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Vasco Azevedo hit a great ball. Nuno Ribeiro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 43rd minute. Carlos Cunha tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Carlos Cunha showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nuno Ribeiro in the 45th minute of the match. Tomás Vieira might have been able to make a better finish in the 47th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Carlos Cunha. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Tomás Vieira ran back to his position shaking his head.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Nuno Ribeiro stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Daniel Matos could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 52nd minute of the match, but Luís Oliveira made a huge save. If Alexandre Cruz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nuno Ribeiro in the 65th minute of play forced SC Alfena's goalkeeper Carlos Cunha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a defensive mix-up in SC Alfena's zone, Nuno Ribeiro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Carlos Cunha came out of the goal and Nuno Ribeiro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 70 minutes into the game, Marruas FC's Tomás Vieira nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Carlos Cunha made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Carlos Cunha made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nuno Ribeiro in the 76th minute of play. Humberto Moura's late challenge caught a Marruas FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Humberto Moura helped the player get up and apologised. In the 81st minute, Humberto Moura hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Nuno Ribeiro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 89th minute of the match Humberto Moura sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Luís Oliveira skillfully saved the ball. Alexandre Cruz's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 90thth minute, Luís Oliveira skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. When Lucas Maia came up free with the goalie in the 95th minute, the Marruas FC fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lucas Maia couldn't finish the play. In the 99th minute SC Alfena were awarded a corner. Simão Neves went to the cornerflag to take it. SC Alfena's Simão Neves was first on the ball when the corner was shot and he dangerously headed the ball towards goal, but Luís Oliveira in the goal jumped up to prevent it from getting in. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Marruas FC had won after a very even match.