League Play-Off

Estádio Merity
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Merity SS's Adalmo Miranda 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. Waldemar Eger received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 6th minute. Aníbal Carvalho tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 9 minutes into the match, Merity SS's goal looked a bit too open when Mateus Tasso came free, but Aníbal Carvalho reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Merity SS's Cristian Negri got a free kick in the 10th minute. Aníbal Carvalho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Wágner Porto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Adalmo Miranda sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Carlos Alberto Mazza might have been able to make a better finish in the 22nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Baltazar Santana. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Carlos Alberto Mazza ran back to his position shaking his head. Aníbal Carvalho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Waldemar Eger, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Merity SS's Aníbal Carvalho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mateus Tasso in the 29th minute of play. Aníbal Carvalho took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Waldemar Eger, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 32 minutes into the match, Merity SS's Adalmo Miranda sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Baltazar Santana narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After some careless play in the Merity SS defense, Mateus Tasso kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Aníbal Carvalho. The Merity SS fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Aníbal Carvalho should have stopped the shot. Merity SS's Aníbal Carvalho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mateus Tasso in the 43rd minute of play. Felippe Garcia sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Adalmo Miranda struck a weak shot in the 47th minute. Baltazar Santana didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Merity SS. After the first half Itambe EC were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Mateus Tasso to make the kick off. When Carlos Alberto Mazza came up free with the goalie in the 52nd minute, the Merity SS 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 Carlos Alberto Mazza couldn't finish the play. Adalmo Miranda fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 53rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Baltazar Santana having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Matías Maciel during the 57th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Matías Maciel hit a great freekick 57 minutes into the match. In the 58th minute, Ricardinho Teixeira sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Itambe EC's Baltazar Santana didn't even have to move. With 61 minutes on the clock, Agnaldo Vinhas commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 61st minute of the game. One of Itambe EC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Merity SS:s goal. Baltazar Santana made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carlos Alberto Mazza in the 68th minute of play. Baltazar Santana took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Carlos Alberto Mazza, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Baltazar Santana stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Adalmo Miranda's shot from short distance in the 81st minute. In the 82nd match minute, Merity SS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Ricardinho Teixeira to maneuver through the defense. Aníbal Carvalho made a fantastic save in the 83rd minute, when Matías Maciel sent off a good shot on target. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.