League Play-Off

Estádio Pirapo
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Potengi's Christian Velloso 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. Christian Velloso sent away a hard shot on goal in the 3rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Yuri Sena in the 5th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Cido Pinheiro saved Potengi from getting behind. An unexpectedly hard shot by Yuri Sena in the 8th minute of play forced Potengi's goalkeeper Cido Pinheiro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Potengi booed when Pirapo EC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 10 match minutes in a wonderful position. Pedrinho da Mata didn't get a good kick on the ball. Cido Pinheiro made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Yuri Sena in the 14th minute of play. If Wiliam Damião had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Cido Pinheiro showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Yuri Sena in the 23rd minute of the match. After 24 minutes, Juvenal do Nascimento mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Potengi and the Pirapo EC players grew even worse after the yellow card. Juvenal do Nascimento kicked well hit freekick during the 24th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Potengi's zone, Wiliam Damião stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Cido Pinheiro came out of the goal and Wiliam Damião tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 29 minutes into the game, Ernesto Esteves was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Potengi's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Pirapo EC the free kick. In the 29th match minute, Potengi was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ernesto Esteves to maneuver through the defense. Wiliam Damião who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 30thth minute tested the skills of Cido Pinheiro when he managed to save the team from getting behind. If Christian Velloso had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Christian Velloso in the 34th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Orlando Zanette saved Pirapo EC from getting behind. Christian Velloso received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Orlando Zanette tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Cido Pinheiro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Yuri Sena, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Wiliam Damião kicked a quick shot right in front of the goal in the 41stth minute. Though ot was a great shot Potengi's keeper Cido Pinheiro was sill able to block leaving the score board unchanged. Cido Pinheiro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Yuri Sena, who was totally free with the ball in the 45th minute. Laerte Amaral fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 48th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cido Pinheiro having to interfere. The first half was very even, with the score at 0-0 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Yuri Sena to strike the kick off in the second half. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Christian Velloso in the 55th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Orlando Zanette prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 56 minutes of play Pirapo EC's Pedrinho da Mata 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. After 57 played minutes Pirapo EC got a freekick which was hit by Pedrinho da Mata. After some careless play in the Pirapo EC defense, Ernesto Esteves kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Orlando Zanette. The Pirapo EC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Orlando Zanette should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Wiliam Damião in the 63rd minute of play forced Potengi's goalkeeper Cido Pinheiro to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Laerte Amaral came up free with the goalie in the 64th minute, the Pirapo EC 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 Laerte Amaral couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 71st minute, Wiliam Damião managed to get in a good position for a shot. Pirapo EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Wiliam Damião was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Cido Pinheiro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Yuri Sena had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 77 minutes Potengi's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Fabiano Goiano who took care of the corner kick. If Wiliam Damião had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 80th minute, Caio Romero left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Pirapo EC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. Orlando Zanette showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ernesto Esteves in the 85th minute of the match. If Ernesto Esteves had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The audience was convinced that Christian Velloso's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Orlando Zanette was relentless in the 96th minute of the game. After 97 played minutes Potengi got a freekick which was hit by Basílio Monteiro. In the 98th minute of the match Fabiano Goiano shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Cido Pinheiro showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.