League Play-Off

Estadio Noura
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Ricardo Lopes started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. After 3 played minutes Noura got a freekick which was hit by Miguel Santarém. After recieving a nice pass, Canas's Rafael Pereira tried to score from far away in the 4th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Canas's Emílio Gomes got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ricardo Lopes struck a weak shot in the 9th minute. Humberto Vaz didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Noura. If Abel Branco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 11th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Abel Branco in the 15th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Cláudio Nogueira saved Noura from getting behind. In the 16th minute, Emílio Matias hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Ricardo Lopes received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Humberto Vaz came out and tried to block the shot, but Ricardo Lopes slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 19th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Noura's zone, Abel Branco stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cláudio Nogueira came out of the goal and Abel Branco tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cláudio Nogueira showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Emílio Gomes in the 27th minute of the match. In the 31st minute, Emílio Gomes ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Cláudio Nogueira was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. 34 minutes into the match, Canas's Abel Branco sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Cláudio Nogueira narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Ricardo Lopes's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Humberto Vaz read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 37th minute of play. In the 42nd minute, Noura's Ricardo Lopes dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 2-1. Humberto Vaz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vasco Teixeira, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 2-1.

Abel Branco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 63rd minute. Cláudio Nogueira tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Canas's Emílio Gomes in the 65th minute got a chance for a shot 65th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Noura's goalie prevented a goal. Humberto Vaz made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ricardo Lopes in the 68th minute of play. Vasco Teixeira sent away a hard shot on goal in the 70th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Cláudio Nogueira was out of position in the 80 minute of play, and Abel Branco capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Abel Branco really showed his touch with that goal: 2-2. After 84th play minutes Ricardo Lopes shot 3-2, a short shot which went by Humberto Vaz and just under the crossbar into goal. In the 87th minute the ball was on its way in behind Canas's goalkeeper Humberto Vaz, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Canas's Afonso Pires got a free kick in the 88th minute. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Noura had won after a very even match.