League Play-Off

Star Arena
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Jailson Couto took the kick off in the first half of the match. In the 4th play minute Cláudio Brodel came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Rubens Cruz. 1-0. Anderson Peixoto came out of the goal in the 7th minute to try and stop a shot by Itaberaba FC's Jailson Couto. But to his dismay, Jailson Couto quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Jailson Couto scored 1-3 in the 15th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Anderson Peixoto, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Abelardo Custódio during the 17th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Abelardo Custódio hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Fabiano Vinhas in the 20th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Anderson Peixoto saved Star Sports from getting behind. Rubens Cruz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cláudio Brodel, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 27th minute, Itaberaba FC's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Sidney Vides fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Anderson Peixoto didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Fabiano Vinhas went, in the 30th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-4 was the resulting score. Richard Borges sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Richard Borges fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 39th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rubens Cruz having to interfere. 41 minutes into the match, Itaberaba FC's goal looked a bit too open when Hermínio Sanches came free, but Rubens Cruz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Geovanni Berger's late challenge caught a Star Sports's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Geovanni Berger helped the player get up and apologised. In the 45th minute, Geovanni Berger hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Richard Borges could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 47th minute of the match, but Rubens Cruz made a huge save. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-4 lead.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Hermínio Sanches made a kick off. Rubens Cruz stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Hermínio Sanches's shot from short distance in the 52nd minute. The Star Sports fans' excitement grew in the 54th match minute when Star Sports's Richard Borges 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 2-4 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. 58 minutes into the game, Star Sports's Hermínio Sanches nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Rubens Cruz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-4. In the 62nd minute, Hermínio Sanches ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Rubens Cruz was frozen by the shot and now it was 4-4. 65 minutes into the game, Fabiano Vinhas was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Itaberaba FC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Star Sports the free kick. In the 65th match minute, Itaberaba FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fabiano Vinhas to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Star Sports booed when Itaberaba FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 66 match minutes in a wonderful position. Vicente Dracena didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 67th minute, Otávio Garcia hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. A collision led to Itaberaba FC getting a freekick after 69 minutes play. Vicente Dracena hit a great ball. Fabiano Vinhas in the 76thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Anderson Peixoto, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. 77 minutes into the match, Richard Borges had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Rubens Cruz. Itaberaba FC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Richard Borges was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 5-4. After some fancy dribbling in the 80th minute, Hermínio Sanches managed to get in a good position for a shot. Star Sports's supporters rose to their feet, but Hermínio Sanches was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Rubens Cruz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Richard Borges in the 82nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rubens Cruz saved Itaberaba FC from getting behind. Star Sports's Anderson Peixoto played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jailson Couto in the 84th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Itaberaba FC's Abelardo Custódio got a free kick in the 85th minute. In the 87th minute Jailson Couto shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Anderson Peixoto saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Hermínio Sanches in the 92nd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rubens Cruz saved Itaberaba FC from getting behind. Anderson Peixoto made an important save on a dangerous shot by Fabiano Vinhas in the 95th minute.