League Play-Off

Estádio Itapiranga
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Portella FC's João Senna 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 Dorian Vidal had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 3rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Itapiranga AD's Manuel Montenegro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Charles Braga in the 8th minute of play. The supporters of Portella FC booed when Itapiranga AD was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Norberto Mazza didn't get a good kick on the ball. João Senna struck a weak shot in the 10th minute. Manuel Montenegro didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Portella FC. In the 12th play minute Dorian Vidal came free and shot an unsuspected shot which went into goal from the right pole behind a surprised Rubinho França. 1-0. Manuel Montenegro took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tiago Gabriel Vinhas, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If João Senna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. With an all-out effort, Itapiranga AD's Rubinho França threw himself towards the right post 24 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Norberto Mazza, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 27 minutes into the match, João Senna had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Manuel Montenegro. Itapiranga AD's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that João Senna was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. Tiago Gabriel Vinhas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 32nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Manuel Montenegro showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from João Senna, who was totally free with the ball in the 33rd minute. Christian Félix received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Rubinho França came out and tried to block the shot, but Christian Félix slotted it home off the left post making it 2-1 in the 34th minute. If João Senna had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 39th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Tiago Gabriel Vinhas sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Christian Félix was the one to do the kick off. In the 54th minute Patrício Medeiros shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rubinho França saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 56 minutes into the match, Portella FC's João Senna sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Manuel Montenegro narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 59th minute, Portella FC's João Senna ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Manuel Montenegro. Manuel Montenegro yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-3. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tiago Gabriel Vinhas got free with Manuel Montenegro in the 64th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After a rather tough play, Itapiranga AD's Norberto Mazza got a free kick in the 66th minute. Manuel Mandrak's late challenge caught a Itapiranga AD's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Manuel Mandrak helped the player get up and apologised. In the 72nd match minute, Portella FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Duda Vieira to maneuver through the defense. Portella FC's Rubinho França played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Dorian Vidal in the 76th minute of play. Rubinho França made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Christian Félix in the 78th minute of play. Rubinho França made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Dorian Vidal in the 83rd minute of play. In the 89th minute Christian Félix shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rubinho França saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 89th match minute, Portella FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Duda Vieira to maneuver through the defense. Tiago Gabriel Vinhas fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Manuel Montenegro having to interfere. João Senna was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 94th minute. Portella FC's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Tiago Gabriel Vinhas could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 96th minute of the match, but Manuel Montenegro made a huge save. When the match was over Portella FC could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Itapiranga AD throughout the match.