League Play-Off

Xerem
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Xerem SS's Olavo Mattos 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. Roberto Azevedo blasted a shot towards the goal in the 3rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Narciso da Cunha having to make a save. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zé Roberto Cearense in the 5th minute of play forced Xerem SS's goalkeeper Narciso da Cunha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Matías Novaes in the 7th minute of play forced Xerem SS's goalkeeper Narciso da Cunha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Enéas Terra charged in rather forcefully in the 7th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Enéas Terra the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 7 played minutes Xerem SS got a freekick which was hit by Enéas Terra. 8 minutes into the match, Roberto Azevedo had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Narciso da Cunha. Xerem SS's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Roberto Azevedo was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. In the 11th minute Zé Roberto Cearense shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Narciso da Cunha saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Hernani Albuquerque showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Olavo Mattos in the 13th minute of the match. Zé Roberto Cearense scored 0-2 in the 15th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Narciso da Cunha, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Hernani Albuquerque made an important save on a dangerous shot by Cássio Ferreira in the 21st minute. Narciso da Cunha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Matías Novaes, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 26th match minute, Xerem SS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Mazinho Perez to maneuver through the defense. After a defensive mix-up in Xerem SS's zone, Roberto Azevedo stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Narciso da Cunha came out of the goal and Roberto Azevedo tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Narciso da Cunha showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Roberto Azevedo in the 32nd minute of the match. The supporters of La Plata EC booed when Xerem SS was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Adriano Velasco didn't get a good kick on the ball. After having played for 37 minutes, Zé Roberto Cearense managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. La Plata EC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Zé Roberto Cearense was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Narciso da Cunha didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Zé Roberto Cearense went, in the 42nd minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. If Cássio Ferreira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-3 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Zé Roberto Cearense to make the kick off. Luiz Peres hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. After 59 played minutes, Xerem SS's Adriano Velasco shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Hernani Albuquerque came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Xerem SS reached it. Hernani Albuquerque stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Olavo Mattos's shot from short distance in the 60th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Zé Roberto Cearense got free with Narciso da Cunha in the 62nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Matías Novaes managed to get in a good position for a shot. La Plata EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Matías Novaes was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Narciso da Cunha breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Hernani Albuquerque showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Cássio Ferreira in the 71st minute of the match. 72 minutes into the match, Xerem SS's goal looked a bit too open when Zé Roberto Cearense came free, but Narciso da Cunha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 74th minute, Roberto Azevedo managed to get in a good position for a shot. La Plata EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Roberto Azevedo was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Narciso da Cunha breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 76th minute of the match Mazinho Perez shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Hernani Albuquerque showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 81st minute Cássio Ferreira shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Hernani Albuquerque saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Narciso da Cunha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Zé Roberto Cearense, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Roberto Azevedo in the 85th minute of play forced Xerem SS's goalkeeper Narciso da Cunha to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Olavo Mattos hit a great freekick 86 minutes into the match. Zé Roberto Cearense who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 93rdth minute tested the skills of Narciso da Cunha when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Zé Roberto Cearense who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 95thth minute tested the skills of Narciso da Cunha when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Matías Novaes could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 97th minute of the match, but Narciso da Cunha made a huge save. When the match was over La Plata EC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Xerem SS throughout the match.