League Play-Off

Estadio Merlaes
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) 9 minutes into the game, Afonso Leite was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Merlaes's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave SC Roios the free kick. After 9 played minutes Merlaes got a freekick which was hit by Afonso Leite. After a rather tough play, SC Roios's Cristiano Barbosa got a free kick in the 10th minute. Sandro Sá's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Joaquim Cunha read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 13th minute of play. If Gil Moutinho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Merlaes getting a freekick after 26 minutes play. Diamantino Tavares hit a great ball. In the 27th minute of the match Manuel Matos sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Eduardo Amaral skillfully saved the ball. 30 minutes into the match, Merlaes's goal looked a bit too open when Cristiano Barbosa came free, but Eduardo Amaral reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Diogo Dantas hit a great freekick 31 minutes into the match. Sebastião Neves sent away a hard shot on goal in the 39th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 46 minutes into the game, SC Roios's Cristiano Barbosa nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Eduardo Amaral made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. The crowd was extremely unhappy with the home team's performance in the first half. They were losing 0-2.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Cristiano Barbosa to strike the kick off in the second half. 61 minutes into the match, Merlaes's goal looked a bit too open when Cristiano Barbosa came free, but Eduardo Amaral reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 63rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Merlaes's goalkeeper Eduardo Amaral, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Diogo Dantas hit a great freekick 64 minutes into the match. Eduardo Amaral made an important save on a dangerous shot by Sebastião Neves in the 65th minute. A collision led to Merlaes getting a freekick after 66 minutes play. Afonso Leite hit a great ball. 67 minutes into the match, Cristiano Barbosa had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Eduardo Amaral. Merlaes's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Cristiano Barbosa was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-3. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gil Moutinho during the 69th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 70 played minutes Merlaes got a freekick which was hit by Gil Moutinho. The audience was convinced that Cristiano Barbosa's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Eduardo Amaral was relentless in the 71st minute of the game. When SC Roios's Cristiano Barbosa in the 80th minute got a chance for a shot 80th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Merlaes's goalie prevented a goal. After a rather tough play, Merlaes's Diogo Dantas got a free kick in the 81st minute. Sebastião Neves fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Eduardo Amaral having to interfere. Gil Moutinho blasted a shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Joaquim Cunha having to make a save. After having played for 87 minutes, Cristiano Barbosa managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Roios's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cristiano Barbosa was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 90 minutes into the match, Merlaes's goalkeeper Eduardo Amaral had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Sebastião Neves. If Sandro Sá had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. SC Roios's Joaquim Cunha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Gil Moutinho in the 97th minute of play. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched SC Roios eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.