League Play-Off

Merity
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Rubens Neto started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 4 minutes into the game, Orlando Neiva cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Rubinho Negri was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 9th minute, Iuri Capixaba made a precise shot to the right of Gualter da Rocha. Merity's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Iuri Capixaba managed to get in a good position for a shot. Clube Atlético Lençoense's supporters rose to their feet, but Iuri Capixaba was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Gualter da Rocha breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 19th minute Caco de Senna shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Gualter da Rocha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 23 minutes into the match, Clube Atlético Lençoense's goal looked a bit too open when Rubens Neto came free, but Rubinho Negri reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. A hard shot 24 in the game by Orlando Neiva from a close distance when the talented Rubinho Negri managed to make a qualified save. Clube Atlético Lençoense's players were relieved. Merity's Gualter da Rocha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Caco de Senna in the 26th minute of play. The crowd rose to their feet as Merity's Rubens Neto slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Rubinho Negri. That made the score 2-1 after 29 minutes of play. Elder Favoretto kicked well hit freekick during the 36th minute of the match. Orlando Neiva could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 40th minute of the match, but Rubinho Negri made a huge save. Cléberson Vander charged in rather forcefully in the 41st minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Cléberson Vander the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 41st minute, Cléberson Vander hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Orlando Neiva sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 46th minute, Caco de Senna ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gualter da Rocha was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The wind increased when Caco de Senna made the kick off in the second half. Rubens Neto's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Rubinho Negri read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 53rd minute of play. After a rather tough play, Clube Atlético Lençoense's Laerte Dante got a free kick in the 53rd minute. In the 58th minute of the match Dráusio Hermes shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Rubinho Negri showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The supporters of Merity booed when Clube Atlético Lençoense was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 60 match minutes in a wonderful position. Laerte Dante didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Orlando Neiva came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Merity 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 Orlando Neiva couldn't finish the play. Clube Atlético Lençoense's Iuri Capixaba got a good chance for a goal in the 65th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Rubens Neto fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rubinho Negri having to interfere. The supporters of Merity booed when Clube Atlético Lençoense was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 68 match minutes in a wonderful position. Elder Favoretto didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Orlando Neiva had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Orlando Neiva fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Rubinho Negri having to interfere. 87 minutes into the match, Rubens Neto had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Rubinho Negri. Clube Atlético Lençoense's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Rubens Neto was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 3-2. Iuri Capixaba recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 92nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Caco de Senna fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 96th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gualter da Rocha having to interfere. Clube Atlético Lençoense's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.