League Play-Off

Saba
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Leandro Vinhas kicked off to start the match. A hard shot by Virgílio de Barros from long distance, 4 minutes into the match, got Luís Fernando Lago's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. After having played for 5 minutes, Carlinhos Ramalho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Saba's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carlinhos Ramalho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Leandro Vinhas in the 8th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Luís Fernando Lago prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The supporters of Saba booed when Guaraji was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 20 match minutes in a wonderful position. Zé Pedro Queirós didn't get a good kick on the ball. Carlinhos Ramalho succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 1-0 in the 22nd playminute. Rubinho Paes kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. In the 33rd minute, Carlinhos Ramalho got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Luís Fernando Lago showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Leandro Vinhas in the 35th minute of the match. Leandro Vinhas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Luís Fernando Lago having to interfere. After having played for 44 minutes, Carlinhos Ramalho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Saba's supporters crossed their fingers, but Carlinhos Ramalho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

In the 56th match minute, Guaraji was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zé Pedro Queirós to maneuver through the defense. In the 60th minute Carlinhos Ramalho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Luís Fernando Lago saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 63rd minute, Telmo Bertassi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Raphael Damião acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 64th minute, took the ball on the long shot from Rubinho Paes. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Zé Pedro Queirós during the 67th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Saba booed when Guaraji was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 67 match minutes in a wonderful position. Zé Pedro Queirós didn't get a good kick on the ball. 68 minutes into the match, Guaraji's goal looked a bit too open when Leandro Vinhas came free, but Luís Fernando Lago reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 71 minutes of play, Saba's Leandro Vinhas made it 2-0 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Luís Fernando Lago was left in no man's land by his defense there! Virgílio de Barros took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 75th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Luís Fernando Lago. Guaraji's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Luís Fernando Lago took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Carlinhos Ramalho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Guaraji's Zé Pedro Queirós got a free kick in the 77th minute. Carlinhos Ramalho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Luís Fernando Lago having to interfere. 83 minutes into the match, Saba's Leandro Vinhas sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Luís Fernando Lago narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 85th minute of the match Sílvio Luís Coutinho shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Luís Fernando Lago showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 97th minute the ball was on its way in behind Guaraji's goalkeeper Luís Fernando Lago, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Guaraji's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.