League Play-Off

Mendo
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Eusébio Nunes got the match started through his kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Eusébio Nunes managed to get in a good position for a shot. Fermelha FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Eusébio Nunes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Mariano Brito breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. When José Carneiro fell near the penalty area in the 4th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mendo FC's protests and gave José Carneiro a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Mendo FC's José Carneiro got a free kick in the 4th minute. If Eusébio Nunes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 6th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Óscar Barbosa hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. When the match clock showed 9 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Joaquim Maia sped through Mendo FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Mariano Brito. In the 20thth minute of the game Eusébio Nunes who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Mendo FC's Mariano Brito was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 20 minutes into the game, Óscar Barbosa was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mendo FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Fermelha FC the free kick. In the 20th minute, Óscar Barbosa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Gustavo Azevedo charged in rather forcefully in the 22nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Gustavo Azevedo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Gustavo Azevedo hit a great freekick 23 minutes into the match. Albertino Correia, 23 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. 27 minutes into the match, Fermelha FC's goal looked a bit too open when Gustavo Azevedo came free, but Pedro Gonçalves reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. With an all-out effort, Mendo FC's Pedro Gonçalves threw himself towards the right post 29 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Rui Tavares, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. In the 30th minute the ball was on its way in behind Fermelha FC's goalkeeper Pedro Gonçalves, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After 31 played minutes Fermelha FC got a freekick which was hit by Carlos Tavares. The supporters of Mendo FC booed when Fermelha FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Albertino Correia didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 34th minute, Nuno Delgado sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Fermelha FC's Pedro Gonçalves didn't even have to move. In the 36th minute of the match Nuno Esteves shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Pedro Gonçalves showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Raul Moreira fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 41st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Pedro Gonçalves having to interfere. If Raul Moreira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Rui Tavares was the one to do the kick off. In the 51st minute Rui Tavares shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Pedro Gonçalves saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mário Cunha kicked well hit freekick during the 54th minute of the match. After 63 minutes of play Mendo FC's Gustavo Azevedo 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. Mendo FC's Raul Moreira got a good chance for a goal in the 68th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Raul Moreira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Pedro Gonçalves tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by José Carneiro in the 74th minute of play forced Fermelha FC's goalkeeper Pedro Gonçalves to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Pedro Gonçalves didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Óscar Barbosa went, in the 77th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-1 was the resulting score. Joaquim Maia could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 85th minute of the match, but Mariano Brito made a huge save. Mendo FC's Óscar Barbosa got his second yellow card of the match in the 87th minute. The referee ordered Óscar Barbosa off the ground. Óscar Barbosa kicked well hit freekick during the 88th minute of the match. In the 91st minute of the match, Joaquim Maia got a very nice opportunity to score, but Mariano Brito was well-placed and pushed the ball away from the goal at the left post. Carlos Tavares's late challenge caught a Mendo FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Carlos Tavares helped the player get up and apologised.