League Play-Off

Estadio Orelhudo
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Orelhudo's Joaquim Cunha started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Joaquim Cunha managed to get in a good position for a shot. Orelhudo's supporters rose to their feet, but Joaquim Cunha was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Manuel Araújo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 5th minute Joaquim Cunha shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Manuel Araújo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Armindo Azevedo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 9th minute, Joaquim Cunha 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. Joaquim Cunha kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. Manuel Araújo made a fantastic save in the 15th minute, when Armindo Azevedo sent off a good shot on target. Manuel Araújo made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Joaquim Cunha in the 20th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 22nd minute, Armindo Azevedo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Orelhudo's supporters rose to their feet, but Armindo Azevedo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Manuel Araújo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Jaime Aleixo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Alexandre Coelho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Orelhudo getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Delfim Pereira hit a great ball. Eusébio Leão's late challenge caught a Orelhudo's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Eusébio Leão helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Orelhudo booed when Gozendinho was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eusébio Leão didn't get a good kick on the ball. 34 minutes into the game, José Tavares was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Gozendinho's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Orelhudo the free kick. In the 34th minute, José Tavares hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 35th minute of the match Simão Maia shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Manuel Araújo showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After having played for 38 minutes, Diogo Matias managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Gozendinho's supporters crossed their fingers, but Diogo Matias was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Joaquim Cunha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 44th minute, Gozendinho's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Armindo Azevedo fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Through an outstanding action, after 46 minutes, Manuel Araújo successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. In the 46th minute, Hugo Lisboa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 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 away team seemed most concentrated when Diogo Matias stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. An unexpectedly hard shot by Diogo Matias in the 52nd minute of play forced Orelhudo's goalkeeper Alexandre Coelho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Diogo Matias in the 53rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Alexandre Coelho saved Orelhudo from getting behind. After 54 minutes of play Gozendinho's José Tavares was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. In the 55th minute, José Tavares hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joaquim Cunha received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Manuel Araújo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Joaquim Cunha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 71st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gozendinho's Manuel Araújo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Armindo Azevedo in the 73rd minute of play. Alexandre Coelho made a fantastic save in the 76th minute, when Jaime Aleixo sent off a good shot on target. Manuel Araújo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Armindo Azevedo, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Armindo Azevedo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Orelhudo's supporters rose to their feet, but Armindo Azevedo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Manuel Araújo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Joaquim Cunha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jaime Aleixo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gozendinho's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.