League Play-Off

Estádio Cotegipe
Spectators: 33 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Cotegipe's Serginho Recife 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. In the 6th minute Paulinho Urbano shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Doriva Soares saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 10th minute the ball was on its way in behind Cotegipe's goalkeeper Doriva Soares, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Serginho Recife's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Amadeu Gonçalves read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 13th minute of play. Gugu Guedes's late challenge caught a Cotegipe's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Gugu Guedes helped the player get up and apologised. In the 19th match minute, Itubera was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Gugu Guedes to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Valdir Veiga got free with Amadeu Gonçalves in the 23rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Serginho Recife was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 27th minute. Cotegipe's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Amadeu Gonçalves showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Serginho Recife in the 29th minute of the match. Luisinho Koehler kicked well hit freekick during the 35th minute of the match. When Valdir Veiga came up free with the goalie in the 41st minute, the Cotegipe 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 Valdir Veiga couldn't finish the play. 42 minutes into the game, Serginho Recife recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Amadeu Gonçalves. Serginho Recife showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-0. Cotegipe were furious when Ulysses Rocha was red carded, 47 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. In the 47th minute, one of Cotegipe: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 Cotegipe. In the 50th minute there was a penalty for Itubera. Wilton Alves stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Doriva Soares. 1-1. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Paulinho Urbano made a kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Paulinho Urbano in the 60th minute of play forced Cotegipe's goalkeeper Doriva Soares to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 61st minute Paulinho Urbano shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Doriva Soares saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Valdir Veiga's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Amadeu Gonçalves read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 63rd minute of play. When the match had gone on for 65 minutes, Paulinho Urbano took a quick shot and it went in 1-2 without a chance for Doriva Soares to make any attempt to save it. Valdir Veiga might have been able to make a better finish in the 71st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Amadeu Gonçalves. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Valdir Veiga ran back to his position shaking his head. Valdir Veiga sent away a hard shot on goal in the 73rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 78 minutes into the match, Valdir Veiga had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Amadeu Gonçalves. Itubera's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Valdir Veiga was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. César Jacinto's late challenge caught a Itubera's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. César Jacinto helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Itubera booed when Cotegipe was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. César Jacinto didn't get a good kick on the ball. Allan Pereira sent away a hard shot on goal in the 85th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Allan Pereira came up free with the goalie in the 86th minute, the Itubera 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 Allan Pereira couldn't finish the play. After 88 minutes of play, Cotegipe's Valdir Veiga made it 3-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Amadeu Gonçalves was left in no man's land by his defense there! After a rather tough play, Itubera's Paulinho Urbano got a free kick in the 92nd minute. Allan Pereira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Doriva Soares tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Allan Pereira fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 99th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Doriva Soares having to interfere. Cotegipe were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Itubera for a fine match.