League Play-Off

Merufe
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Vicente Viegas took the kick off in the first half of the match. Nuno Leãos short, quick shot in the 7thth minute got Américo Matias to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. In the 8th minute Tomás Faro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Américo Matias saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 11 minutes into the game, Merufe's Lucas Guarda nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Américo Matias made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Nuno Machado made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Vicente Viegas in the 18th minute of play. In a very dangerous position, a player in SC Matriz fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 21st minute. Penalty! Américo Matias made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tomás Faro in the 28th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Tomás Faro in the 30th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Américo Matias saved SC Matriz from getting behind. If Nuno Leão had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The supporters of Merufe booed when SC Matriz was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sebastião Martins didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Tomás Faro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 37th minute of the match Bruno Paiva shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Nuno Machado showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. José Lopes recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 38th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After having played for 42 minutes, José Lopes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SC Matriz's supporters crossed their fingers, but José Lopes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If José Lopes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sebastião Martins sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tomás Faro to make the kick off. In the 54th match minute, SC Matriz was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Sebastião Martins to maneuver through the defense. In the 60th minute, Merufe's André Santos seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed André Santos the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Merufe protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and André Santos had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. In the 62nd minute there was a penalty for SC Matriz. Simão Pereira stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Nuno Machado. 2-1. After some careless play in the Merufe defense, Júlio Nunes kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Nuno Machado. The Merufe fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Nuno Machado should have stopped the shot. Nuno Leão sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Adolfo Viegas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 80th minute, Lucas Guarda 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. Vicente Viegas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Vicente Viegas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. SC Matriz's Vicente Viegas got a good chance for a goal in the 100th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.