League Play-Off

Coucao
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The supporters of Defezinha booed when SC Coucao was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. João Matias didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luís Vaz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from José Amaral, who was totally free with the ball in the 4th minute. 5 minutes into the match, SC Coucao's goal looked a bit too open when José Amaral came free, but Luís Vaz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 14th minute José Amaral shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Luís Vaz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 16th match minute, Defezinha was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by José Moura to maneuver through the defense. Rodrigo Borges recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 17th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. If Rodrigo Borges had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 20th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. João Matias received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 22nd minute. Afonso Barbosa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Afonso Barbosa made an important save on a dangerous shot by João Matias in the 27th minute. José Amaral fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Luís Vaz having to interfere. When João Matias came up free with the goalie in the 33rd minute, the SC Coucao 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 João Matias couldn't finish the play. After a defensive mix-up in Defezinha's zone, Rodrigo Borges stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Afonso Barbosa came out of the goal and Rodrigo Borges tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Luís Paiva fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Luís Vaz having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Luís Ferreira in the 41st minute of play forced SC Coucao's goalkeeper Luís Vaz to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Luís Ferreira fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 45th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Luís Vaz having to interfere. When Hugo Viana fell near the penalty area in the 46th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Coucao's protests and gave Hugo Viana a yellow card for diving instead. Hugo Viana kicked well hit freekick during the 46th minute of the match. Luís Vaz showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Luís Ferreira in the 47th minute of the match. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Luís Ferreira to make the kick off. SC Coucao's Luís Vaz proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 54th minute of the match, managed to save SC Coucao from getting a goal against them. Luís Vaz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luís Ferreira in the 58th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in SC Coucao's zone, Luís Ferreira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Luís Vaz came out of the goal and Luís Ferreira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 72 minutes into the game, one of SC Coucao:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. When the match had been going on for 73 minutes, Defezinha's Bernardo Pires got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Luís Vaz. José Amaral might have been able to make a better finish in the 78th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Luís Vaz. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. José Amaral ran back to his position shaking his head. Luís Vaz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luís Ferreira in the 78th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Defezinha's zone, Hugo Viana stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Afonso Barbosa came out of the goal and Hugo Viana tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Rodrigo Borges sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The Defezinha supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Defezinha would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.