League Play-Off

Tacaratu
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Jonathan da Rocha started the match with the kick off. Richard Rodrigues took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Jonathan da Rocha, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Edson Saldanha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 4th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jonathan da Rocha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 7thth minute of the game Jonathan da Rocha who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Tacaratu's Richard Rodrigues was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Jonathan da Rocha's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Richard Rodrigues read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 9th minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Tacaratu's zone, Edson Saldanha stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Richard Rodrigues came out of the goal and Edson Saldanha tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Jonathan da Rocha fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Richard Rodrigues having to interfere. In the 15th minute, Tacaratu's Cafu Guerra ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Gilson Saraiva. Gilson Saraiva yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Tacaratu's Richard Rodrigues played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jonathan da Rocha in the 22nd minute of play. Edson Saldanha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Adrianinho Paraíba's late challenge caught a Pindobacu FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Adrianinho Paraíba helped the player get up and apologised. After 25 played minutes Tacaratu got a freekick which was hit by Adrianinho Paraíba. Richard Rodrigues showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Jonathan da Rocha in the 29th minute of the match. Jonathan da Rocha sent away a hard shot on goal in the 33rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Edson Saldanha fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Richard Rodrigues having to interfere. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Cafu Guerra stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. When Jonathan da Rocha came up free with the goalie in the 52nd minute, the Pindobacu FC 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 Jonathan da Rocha couldn't finish the play. In the 53rd minute, Edson Saldanha got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Edson Saldanha who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 57thth minute tested the skills of Richard Rodrigues when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Rogério Tavares recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 65th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Edson Saldanha received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Richard Rodrigues tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Edson Saldanha fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Richard Rodrigues having to interfere. If Cafu Guerra had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. 78 minutes into the match, Pindobacu FC's Edson Saldanha sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Richard Rodrigues narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Gilson Saraiva took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Cafu Guerra, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of Tacaratu booed when Pindobacu FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Maurinho Moreira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Richard Rodrigues showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jonathan da Rocha, who was totally free with the ball in the 88th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Edson Saldanha got free with Richard Rodrigues in the 90th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Tacaratu's Richard Rodrigues played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jonathan da Rocha in the 92nd minute of play. With a little luck, Tacaratu's Richard Rodrigues got control of the ball when Edson Saldanha tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Jonathan da Rocha came up free with the goalie in the 95th minute, the Pindobacu FC 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 Jonathan da Rocha couldn't finish the play. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Tacaratu had won after a very even match.