League Play-Off

Estádio Aratama
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Afonso Recife took the kick off in the first half of the match. The Aratama fans' excitement grew in the 6th match minute when Aratama's Kléberson Castro looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 1-0 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Angelo Branco took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Kléberson Castro, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Juninho Brasil showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Afonso Recife, who was totally free with the ball in the 12th minute. Angelo Branco showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kléberson Castro, who was totally free with the ball in the 17th minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Caetano Batista during the 18th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Caetano Batista kicked well hit freekick during the 18th minute of the match. Kléberson Castro blasted a shot towards the goal in the 20th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Angelo Branco having to make a save. In the 22nd match minute, Jacigua was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by João Paulo Meirelles to maneuver through the defense. Angelo Branco acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 23rd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Leonardo Pimenta. If Donatello Mattos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 24th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 27 minutes, Ademir Ferreira mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Aratama and the Jacigua players grew even worse after the yellow card. A collision led to Aratama getting a freekick after 27 minutes play. Ademir Ferreira hit a great ball. Donatello Mattos struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Juninho Brasil didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Jacigua. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Leonardo Pimenta during the 35th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 35th match minute, Aratama was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Leonardo Pimenta to maneuver through the defense. 36 minutes into the match, Jacigua's Adrianinho Valadares sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Juninho Brasil narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Donatello Mattos received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Juninho Brasil tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Juninho Brasil took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Afonso Recife, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Kléberson Castro made a kick off. Donatello Mattos could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 54th minute of the match, but Juninho Brasil made a huge save. If Donatello Mattos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Aratama's Juninho Brasil played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Afonso Recife in the 61st minute of play. Juninho Brasil didn't succeed to prevent the ball from going into goal when Jacigua's Afonso Recife shot an unexpected shot in the crossbar's under edge and made 1-1 in the ordered_time% minute. Afonso Recife received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Juninho Brasil came out and tried to block the shot, but Afonso Recife slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 68th minute. João Paulo Meirelles charged in rather forcefully in the 76th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed João Paulo Meirelles the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. João Paulo Meirelles kicked well hit freekick during the 76th minute of the match. Digo Braga scored 2-2 in the 80th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Angelo Branco, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 85th minute, one of Jacigua:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Jacigua. In the 87th minute there was a penalty for Aratama. Leonardo Pimenta stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Angelo Branco. 3-2. After a defensive mix-up in Jacigua's zone, Kléberson Castro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Angelo Branco came out of the goal and Kléberson Castro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Aratama's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.