League Play-Off

Louro
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Carlos Pedroso took the kick off in the first half of the match. If Afonso Porto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 7th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 8 minutes, João Lima mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Louro FC and the Espindo FC players grew even worse after the yellow card. The crowd rose to their feet as Louro FC's Inácio Borges slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Viriato Fonseca. That made the score 1-0 after 11 minutes of play. Manuel Bessa hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. The Louro FC fans' excitement grew in the 21st match minute when Louro FC's João Teixeira looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 2-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Xavier Fernandes stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Manuel Bessa's shot from short distance in the 25th minute. After a defensive mix-up in Espindo FC's zone, João Teixeira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Viriato Fonseca came out of the goal and João Teixeira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Louro FC's Xavier Fernandes played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Afonso Porto in the 34th minute of play. When Afonso Porto came up free with the goalie in the 35th minute, the Espindo FC 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 Afonso Porto couldn't finish the play. Xavier Fernandes made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Afonso Porto in the 37th minute of play. João Teixeira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Viriato Fonseca tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Joaquim Setúbal's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Xavier Fernandes read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 42nd minute of play. In the 43rd match minute, Louro FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Júlio Abreu to maneuver through the defense. Afonso Porto's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Xavier Fernandes read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 47th minute of play. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Manuel Bessa was the one to do the kick off. 51 minutes into the match, Espindo FC's Afonso Porto sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Xavier Fernandes narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Xavier Fernandes made an important save on a dangerous shot by Afonso Porto in the 53rd minute. The supporters of Louro FC booed when Espindo FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 54 match minutes in a wonderful position. Eusébio Gueifão didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 57 minutes, Joaquim Porto managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Espindo FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Joaquim Porto was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 59th minute Manuel Bessa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Xavier Fernandes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 61 minutes into the match, Carlos Pedroso had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Viriato Fonseca. Espindo FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Carlos Pedroso was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-0. Espindo FC's Viriato Fonseca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Carlos Pedroso in the 67th minute of play. Afonso Porto received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 70th minute. Xavier Fernandes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 74 minutes into the match, Louro FC's goalkeeper Xavier Fernandes had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Afonso Porto. In the 75th minute, Joaquim Setúbal had to leave the field with a concussion. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Inácio Borges during the 75th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Louro FC's Inácio Borges got a free kick in the 76th minute. Espindo FC's Viriato Fonseca played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by João Teixeira in the 79th minute of play. If João Teixeira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Carlos Pedroso in the 93rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Viriato Fonseca prevented the ball from getting in the gole. For all the effort they put into the match, the Espindo FC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Louro FC.