League Play-Off

Matriz
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Vicente Viegas got the match started through his kick off. After a defensive mix-up in SC Matriz's zone, Joaquim Pinto stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Américo Matias came out of the goal and Joaquim Pinto tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Jacinto Simões sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Manuel Paiva received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Américo Matias tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Manuel Paiva fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Américo Matias having to interfere. Albertino Trindade made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vicente Viegas in the 24th minute of play. In the 26th minute, Manuel Paiva got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. A collision led to SC Matriz getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Rogério Alves hit a great ball. Manuel Paiva received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Américo Matias tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Manuel Paiva was the one to do the kick off. Joaquim Pinto's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Américo Matias firmly grabbed it by the left post. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Vicente Viegas in the 58th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Albertino Trindade saved SC Cuba from getting behind. Bruno Paiva charged in rather forcefully in the 59th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Bruno Paiva the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. A collision led to SC Matriz getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Bruno Paiva hit a great ball. If Vicente Viegas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Bruno Paiva was shown his second yellow card after 72 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. Albertino Trindade showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from José Lopes in the 75th minute of the match. After having played for 77 minutes, Carlos Cardoso managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Cuba's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carlos Cardoso was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. SC Matriz's defense didn't have a chance, in the 92nd minute, when Manuel Paiva scored to the left of an out of position Américo Matias, making the score, 0-2. Manuel Paiva struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Américo Matias didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SC Cuba.