League Play-Off

Estádio Itau
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Maia's Marcelinho Reis started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Roberto Brito during the 5th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Roberto Brito kicked well hit freekick during the 5th minute of the match. In the 6th minute, Fernandinho Ceresso left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Maia fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Romeu Correia's late challenge caught a Itau's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Romeu Correia helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Itau booed when Maia was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Romeu Correia didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Valdomiro Luz had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Marcelinho Reis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Aílton Melo charged in rather forcefully in the 19th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Aílton Melo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Aílton Melo kicked well hit freekick during the 20th minute of the match. Celso Ferraz made a fantastic save in the 25th minute, when Célio Cardozo sent off a good shot on target. Fernandinho Ceresso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Willian Berger tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marcelinho Reis received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Willian Berger tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 34 minutes of play Itau's Roberto Brito was too eager in his attempt to stop his opponent and brought him down. With that he got his second yellow card and was ordered off the ground. Roberto Brito hit a great freekick 34 minutes into the match. If Marcelinho Reis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 37 minutes into the match, Itau's Célio Cardozo sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Celso Ferraz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 45th minute, Fernandinho Ceresso left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Maia fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-2. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Célio Cardozo to make the kick off. When Nelson Santos fell near the penalty area in the 57th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Maia's protests and gave Nelson Santos a yellow card for diving instead. Nelson Santos hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. After having played for 61 minutes, Marcelinho Reis managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maia's supporters crossed their fingers, but Marcelinho Reis was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 64th match minute, Maia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gino Messias to maneuver through the defense. In the 68th minute, Fernandinho Ceresso ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Willian Berger was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-3. After having played for 71 minutes, Fernandinho Ceresso managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maia's supporters crossed their fingers, but Fernandinho Ceresso was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Romeu Correia kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. Celso Ferraz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Célio Cardozo went, in the 79th minute, to the upper right corner, 2-3 was the resulting score. Celso Ferraz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Célio Cardozo went, in the 89th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-4 was the resulting score. Maia's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.