League Play-Off

Valinor Arena
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Falcão Trevisan made the kick off which started today's match. If Pedro das Neves had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 8th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Amauri Branco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pedro das Neves in the 14th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Sapopema's zone, Nelson Pinho stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Paulão Soares came out of the goal and Nelson Pinho tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gláuber Mota's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Paulão Soares read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 17th minute of play. Amauri Branco showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Pedro das Neves in the 22nd minute of the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Zé Prestes during the 29th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Zé Prestes hit a great freekick 29 minutes into the match. 32 minutes into the match, Valinor's Nelson Pinho sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Paulão Soares narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Paulão Soares showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Gláuber Mota, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. Nelson Pinho recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 40th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Sapopema's Paulão Soares proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 42nd minute of the match, managed to save Sapopema from getting a goal against them. 45 minutes into the game, Doni Senna was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Valinor's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Sapopema the free kick. Amauri Branco made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pedro das Neves in the 48th minute of play.

The wind increased when Gláuber Mota made the kick off in the second half. When Gláuber Mota came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Valinor 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 Gláuber Mota couldn't finish the play. Nelson Pinho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 63rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Paulão Soares having to interfere. Gláuber Mota sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Edvaldo Freitas hit a great freekick 69 minutes into the match. 75 minutes into the game, Nelson Pinho cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Paulão Soares was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Valinor's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Cristóvão Hoffmann in the 83rd minute. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Sapopema's goalie and right to Osvaldo Botelho. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Sapopema's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. After 86 minutes, Douglas de Andrade mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Sapopema and the Valinor players grew even worse after the yellow card. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Falcão Trevisan in the 92nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Amauri Branco prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Pedro das Neves sent away a hard shot on goal in the 94th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Pedro das Neves in the 96thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Amauri Branco, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Sapopema's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.