League Play-Off

Empire Stadium
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) After 5 minutes, Zé Negri mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Empire Football Club and the Ararapari SC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 5th minute, one of Empire Football Club:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Empire Football Club. In the 6th minute there was a penalty for Ararapari SC. Ademir Bueno stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Pedrinho Cabral. 0-1. 13 minutes into the match, Empire Football Club's Alex Alagoano sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Anselmo Dantas narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Lenílson Abraão received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Anselmo Dantas tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Cícero Damião had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 18th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Edson Carvalho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 21st minute. Pedrinho Cabral tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ararapari SC's Edson Carvalho got a good chance for a goal in the 23rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jorge Vaz during the 24th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 24 played minutes Empire Football Club got a freekick which was hit by Jorge Vaz. Pedrinho Cabral took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Edson Carvalho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 30 minutes, Cícero Damião managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ararapari SC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Cícero Damião was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Cícero Damião in the 38th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Pedrinho Cabral saved Empire Football Club from getting behind. Rafael Gaspar kicked well hit freekick during the 42nd minute of the match. Pedrinho Cabral made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Cícero Damião in the 45th minute of play. If Edson Carvalho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. A collision led to Empire Football Club getting a freekick after 47 minutes play. Eduardo Tróia hit a great ball. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Edson Carvalho to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Edson Carvalho ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Pedrinho Cabral was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. Alex Alagoano recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 56th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Lenílson Abraão sent away a hard shot on goal in the 60th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Anselmo Dantas made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Alex Alagoano in the 61st minute of play. In the 64th minute, Cícero Damião 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. Empire Football Club's Pedrinho Cabral played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Edson Carvalho in the 67th minute of play. Pedrinho Cabral stood somewhat misplaced when Cícero Damião came free in front of goal and shot 0-3 to the left of him in the 72 minute. The supporters of Empire Football Club booed when Ararapari SC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Severino Quintal didn't get a good kick on the ball. Alex Alagoano fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Anselmo Dantas having to interfere. 86 minutes into the game, Rafael Gaspar was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ararapari SC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Empire Football Club the free kick. Lenílson Abraão might have been able to make a better finish in the 93rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Anselmo Dantas. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lenílson Abraão ran back to his position shaking his head. After a defensive mix-up in Ararapari SC's zone, Lenílson Abraão stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Anselmo Dantas came out of the goal and Lenílson Abraão tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The Ararapari SC players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.