League Play-Off

Pires
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. Nilmar Varela started the match with the kick off. Gernando Simão stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Allan Matorin's shot from short distance in the 3rd minute. In the 4th minute, Pires's Allan Matorin ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Gernando Simão. Gernando Simão yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. After a defensive mix-up in Pires's zone, Jorge Eger stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Benê Marques came out of the goal and Jorge Eger tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Olívio Meira charged in rather forcefully in the 9th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Olívio Meira the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Lagarto EC booed when Pires was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Olívio Meira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Benê Marques came out of the goal in the 12th minute to try and stop a shot by Lagarto EC's Nilmar Varela. But to his dismay, Nilmar Varela quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. Gernando Simão took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Vágner Coelho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Benê Marques showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nilmar Varela, who was totally free with the ball in the 23rd minute. Jorge Eger struck a weak shot in the 27th minute. Benê Marques didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lagarto EC. With his leg Gernando Simão managed to avoid a goal in the 33rdth minute, when Pires's Allan Matorin fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. In the 43rd minute, Norberto Salgado hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 44th minute of the match, Allan Matorin tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Gernando Simão saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. 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.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Allan Matorin made a kick off. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 60th minute of the game. One of Lagarto EC:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Pires:s goal. In the 64thth minute of the game Paulo Renato Ramos who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Lagarto EC's Gernando Simão was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Paulo Renato Ramos received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Gernando Simão tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Allan Matorin sent away a hard shot on goal in the 75th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Jorge Eger had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Pires's Paulo Renato Ramos got a good chance for a goal in the 81st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Allan Matorin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 85 minutes into the match, Pires's Paulo Renato Ramos sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Gernando Simão narrowly saved just below the crossbar. After a defensive mix-up in Lagarto EC's zone, Paulo Renato Ramos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Gernando Simão came out of the goal and Paulo Renato Ramos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Gernando Simão showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Allan Matorin in the 96th minute of the match. Jorge Eger sent away a hard shot on goal in the 99th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. For all the effort they put into the match, the Lagarto EC players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for Pires.