League Play-Off

Estádio Itiuba
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Almas's Alfredinho Silveira 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. The supporters of Montes Claros FC booed when Almas was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Charles de Brito didn't get a good kick on the ball. Yuri Tasso recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 8th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Clóvis Mesquita blasted a shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Rafael da Mata having to make a save. Rafael da Mata came out of the goal in the 13th minute to try and stop a shot by Almas's Clóvis Mesquita. But to his dismay, Clóvis Mesquita quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. Júlio Arantes's late challenge caught a Montes Claros FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Júlio Arantes helped the player get up and apologised. After 22 played minutes Almas got a freekick which was hit by Júlio Arantes. 26 minutes into the match, Almas's goalkeeper Eliézer Dante had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cícero Fonseca. In the 31st minute, Clóvis Mesquita ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Rafael da Mata was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. After a defensive mix-up in Montes Claros FC's zone, Alfredinho Silveira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Rafael da Mata came out of the goal and Alfredinho Silveira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Luís Guilherme Quaresma was astounded when the referee showed him the red card after a seemingly innocent challenge, 37 minutes into the match. A collision led to Almas getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Luís Guilherme Quaresma hit a great ball. 43 minutes into the match, Almas's goalkeeper Eliézer Dante had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Cícero Fonseca. In the 47th minute of the match, Celsinho Castro tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Eliézer Dante saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. After the first half Almas were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Rafael da Mata didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Clóvis Mesquita went, in the 55th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. Rafael da Mata took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frank Magalhães, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 67th minute Celsinho Castro shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Eliézer Dante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 68th minute, Celsinho Castro ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Eliézer Dante was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-3. Almas's Eliézer Dante played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cícero Fonseca in the 71st minute of play. A collision led to Montes Claros FC getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Pedrão Bertassi hit a great ball. Charles de Brito recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 75th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 77th minute, Almas's Clóvis Mesquita ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Rafael da Mata. Rafael da Mata yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-4. In the 87th match minute, Montes Claros FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Zeca Trancoso to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Almas booed when Montes Claros FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Zeca Trancoso didn't get a good kick on the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Celsinho Castro in the 94th minute of play forced Almas's goalkeeper Eliézer Dante to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 95 minutes into the game, Montes Claros FC's Cícero Fonseca nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Eliézer Dante made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-4. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Almas had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.