League Play-Off

Itupeva
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Cova AD's Rodolfo Jacinto 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. If Rodolfo Jacinto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Ramiro Varela fell near the penalty area in the 4th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Itupeva AD's protests and gave Ramiro Varela a yellow card for diving instead. Ramiro Varela kicked well hit freekick during the 4th minute of the match. When the match had gone on for 10 minutes, Rodolfo Jacinto put it in 0-2 from a short distance just to the right of José Paulo Mello. Jorge Moraes's late challenge caught a Cova AD's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Jorge Moraes helped the player get up and apologised. In the 13th match minute, Itupeva AD was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jorge Moraes to maneuver through the defense. In the 14th minute of the match Eurico de Lima sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but José Paulo Mello skillfully saved the ball. After 16 minutes, Egídio Arósio made it 0-3 with a short kick to the right side. Itupeva AD's José Paulo Mello tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Egídio Arósio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. José Paulo Mello tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 21 played minutes Cova AD got a freekick which was hit by Rodolfo Jacinto. Cova AD's Zé Carlos Araújo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Jacinto de Queiroz in the 23rd minute of play. José Paulo Mello took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Rodolfo Jacinto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Cova AD's Egídio Arósio got a good chance for a goal in the 31st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. José Paulo Mello stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Rodolfo Jacinto's shot from short distance in the 36th minute. If Rodolfo Jacinto had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ramiro Varela was shown his second yellow card after 39 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. When Cova AD's Egídio Arósio in the 42nd minute got a chance for a shot 42nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Itupeva AD's goalie prevented a goal. If Egídio Arósio had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 43rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When Cova AD's Egídio Arósio in the 45th minute got a chance for a shot 45th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Itupeva AD's goalie prevented a goal.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Gilmar Ramos made a kick off. Marcinho Guedes kicked well hit freekick during the 51st minute of the match. Rodolfo Jacinto might have been able to make a better finish in the 56th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over José Paulo Mello. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rodolfo Jacinto ran back to his position shaking his head. If Gilmar Ramos had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 64th match minute, Cova AD was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Amauri Leite to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Egídio Arósio got free with José Paulo Mello in the 66th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gilmar Ramos recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 67th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. With his leg José Paulo Mello managed to avoid a goal in the 75thth minute, when Cova AD's Egídio Arósio fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 76 minutes into the match, Egídio Arósio had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of José Paulo Mello. Itupeva AD's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Egídio Arósio was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-4. The audience thought a goal was coming when Egídio Arósio got free with José Paulo Mello in the 80th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Rodolfo Jacinto struck a weak shot in the 83rd minute. José Paulo Mello didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cova AD. José Paulo Mello showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Rodolfo Jacinto, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. The audience thought a goal was coming when Egídio Arósio got free with José Paulo Mello in the 92nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Rodolfo Jacinto blasted a shot towards the goal in the 95th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without José Paulo Mello having to make a save. Cova AD played a much better game than Itupeva AD and deserved their victory. The Itupeva AD players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.