League Play-Off

Itapiru
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Valdo Xavier made the kick off which started today's match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Valdo Xavier in the 3rd minute of play forced Itapiru's goalkeeper Emanuel Coutinho to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 4 minutes into the match, Vitório Ceresso had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Giovani Costa. Gopouva's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Vitório Ceresso was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-0. Vitório Ceresso's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 7thth minute, Giovani Costa skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Giovani Costa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Telmo Sanches in the 10th minute of play. 12 minutes in the game, Telmo Sanches fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Giovani Costa having to interfere. In the 14th minute Telmo Sanches shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giovani Costa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 15th minute the ball was on its way in behind Gopouva's goalkeeper Giovani Costa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Telmo Sanches sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Giovani Costa came out of the goal in the 21st minute to try and stop a shot by Itapiru's Vitório Ceresso. But to his dismay, Vitório Ceresso quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. Gopouva's Giovani Costa played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Telmo Sanches in the 26th minute of play. After 27 minutes, Vicente Rossi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Gopouva and the Itapiru players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 27th match minute, Gopouva was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vicente Rossi to maneuver through the defense. Waldemar Furtado, 28 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Telmo Sanches in the 30th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Giovani Costa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In a very dangerous position, a player in Itapiru fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 31st minute. Penalty! The referee gave Gopouva a penalty, 33 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by João Carlos Favoretto, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Itapiru's Emanuel Coutinho. 2-1. Vitório Ceresso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Giovani Costa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Telmo Sanches in the 39th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Giovani Costa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Telmo Sanches's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Giovani Costa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 42nd minute of play. Nilton Saldanha kicked well hit freekick during the 43rd minute of the match. Vitório Ceresso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 45th minute. Giovani Costa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Telmo Sanches to strike the kick off in the second half. If Valdo Xavier had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With his leg Emanuel Coutinho managed to avoid a goal in the 56thth minute, when Gopouva's Elder Soeiro fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Vitório Ceresso took the ball and in the 80 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Giovani Costa. Giovani Costa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 3-1. Giovani Costa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Telmo Sanches's shot from short distance in the 85th minute. Elder Soeiro came free with the goalkeeper in the 88th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Emanuel Coutinho could save by the left post. Vitório Ceresso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Giovani Costa tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 94 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Itapiru! The goalkeeper, Emanuel Coutinho, was totally fooled by Gopouva's João Carlos Favoretto, who 96 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Itapiru fans cheered their team off the field, for while Gopouva had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.