League Play-Off

Esculca
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Augusto Moura got the match started through his kick off. Tomás Andrade made an important save on a dangerous shot by Rogério Freitas in the 3rd minute. If Rogério Freitas had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 8 minutes into the match, Duarte Moura notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Esculca FC's Domingos Azevedo. Domingos Azevedo was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Domingos Azevedo showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Duarte Moura, who was totally free with the ball in the 13th minute. After some fancy dribbling in the 16th minute, Luís Costa managed to get in a good position for a shot. SC Cubas's supporters rose to their feet, but Luís Costa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Domingos Azevedo breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Rogério Freitas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tomás Andrade took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Augusto Moura, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Rogério Freitas received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Tomás Andrade tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When André Cardoso fell near the penalty area in the 29th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored SC Cubas's protests and gave André Cardoso a yellow card for diving instead. After 29 played minutes SC Cubas got a freekick which was hit by André Cardoso. Luís Costa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Domingos Azevedo stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Duarte Moura's shot from short distance in the 35th minute. Duarte Moura fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Domingos Azevedo having to interfere. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-2 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Duarte Moura was the one to do the kick off. Tomás Andrade didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Rogério Freitas went, in the 53rd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Luís Costa could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 56th minute of the match, but Domingos Azevedo made a huge save. Duarte Moura struck a weak shot in the 59th minute. Domingos Azevedo didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SC Cubas. In the 64th minute Duarte Moura shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Domingos Azevedo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Augusto Moura's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Tomás Andrade read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 71st minute of play. In the 72nd minute the ball was on its way in behind SC Cubas's goalkeeper Tomás Andrade, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. An unexpectedly hard shot by Augusto Moura in the 75th minute of play forced SC Cubas's goalkeeper Tomás Andrade to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Luís Costa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Domingos Azevedo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 83rd minute Duarte Moura shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Domingos Azevedo saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Luís Costa received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Domingos Azevedo tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The SC Cubas supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing SC Cubas would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.