League Play-Off

Juarez
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Luiz Paulo Xavier started the match with the kick off. The supporters of Macae booed when Juarez EC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 2 match minutes in a wonderful position. Romeu Jacinto didn't get a good kick on the ball. The supporters of Juarez EC booed when Macae was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Geovânio Simão didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luiz Paulo Xavier received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Ricardinho Cosme came out and tried to block the shot, but Luiz Paulo Xavier slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 13th minute. If Luiz Paulo Xavier had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Joélson Cabral who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 20thth minute tested the skills of Ricardinho Cosme when he managed to save the team from getting behind. 22 minutes into the match, Juarez EC's Luiz Fábio Gonçalves broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. In the 25th minute Benê Oliveira shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zacarias de Castro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Juarez EC's zone, Benê Oliveira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zacarias de Castro came out of the goal and Benê Oliveira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 28th minute Benê Oliveira shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Zacarias de Castro saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Macae's Benê Oliveira in 30 game minutes managed to cut through with the ball in front of the goal, only having to shoot. Zacarias de Castro guarding the goal like a pit bull was extremely focused and managed to reach the ball just by the crossbar before it went in. When Adriano Salgado fell near the penalty area in the 31st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Juarez EC's protests and gave Adriano Salgado a yellow card for diving instead. When Luizinho de Souza fell near the penalty area in the 39th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Macae's protests and gave Luizinho de Souza a yellow card for diving instead. 45 minutes into the match, Macae's goalkeeper Ricardinho Cosme had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Luiz Paulo Xavier. Naldo Azevedo struck a weak shot in the 47th minute. Zacarias de Castro didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Macae. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

52 minutes in the game, Naldo Azevedo dribbled his way through the penalty area and after maneuvering past an opponent, drilled a quick shot at the goal. The ball looked like it was going in, but it was hit a bit too hard and flew over the goal. Zacarias de Castro was out of position in the 53 minute of play, and Benê Oliveira capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Benê Oliveira really showed his touch with that goal: 2-1. 58 minutes into the game, Romeu Jacinto was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Juarez EC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Macae the free kick. Benê Oliveira struck a weak shot in the 66th minute. Zacarias de Castro didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Macae. After some fancy dribbling in the 67th minute, Naldo Azevedo managed to get in a good position for a shot. Macae's supporters rose to their feet, but Naldo Azevedo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Zacarias de Castro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a defensive mix-up in Juarez EC's zone, Benê Oliveira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Zacarias de Castro came out of the goal and Benê Oliveira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 71 minutes into the match, Juarez EC's goalkeeper Zacarias de Castro had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Naldo Azevedo. Naldo Azevedo received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Zacarias de Castro tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Adriano Salgado got his second yellow card in the match during the 75th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 76th minute, Adriano Salgado hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 77 minutes, Manfredo Bezerra mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Macae and the Juarez EC players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Macae getting a freekick after 78 minutes play. Manfredo Bezerra hit a great ball. Joélson Cabral received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 80th minute. Ricardinho Cosme tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 82nd minute, Joélson Cabral ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ricardinho Cosme was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-1. Macae's Ricardinho Cosme played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joélson Cabral in the 91st minute of play. Naldo Azevedo fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Zacarias de Castro having to interfere. Juarez EC were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Macae for a fine match.