League Play-Off

Heliodoro R.Lopes
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. Ezequiel Sá started the match with the kick off. After 5 played minutes Nilson Castro rounded Cantao SS's defense and shot a beautiful shot into goal via left pole - 1-0. TENERIFE's Tostão Capixaba got a good chance for a goal in the 8th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. TENERIFE's Tostão Capixaba got a good chance for a goal in the 11th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Cantao SS were furious when Ademir Maciel was red carded, 16 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. In the 16th minute, one of Cantao SS: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 Cantao SS. When the match had been going on for 18 minutes, TENERIFE's Nilson Castro got an opportunity to shoot a penalty. He stayed cool and waited for the goalkeeper to move, before he confidently shot the ball into the goal, to the left of Cesinha Antunes. If Emerson Fonseca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nilson Castro struck a weak shot in the 22nd minute. Cesinha Antunes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for TENERIFE. Luís Fabiano Pena sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. José Carlos Fonseca made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Luís Fabiano Pena in the 30th minute of play. Emerson Fonseca sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Emerson Fonseca's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 39thth minute, Cesinha Antunes skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. Nilson Castro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 42nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cesinha Antunes having to interfere. Emerson Fonseca sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 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.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Emerson Fonseca to strike the kick off in the second half. Emerson Fonseca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cesinha Antunes having to interfere. In the 54th minute, Tostão Capixaba left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The TENERIFE fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-0. Cesinha Antunes didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Emerson Fonseca went, in the 57th minute, to the upper right corner, 4-0 was the resulting score. Luís Fabiano Pena sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 66 minutes into the game, Vladimir Alvarenga cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 4-1. José Carlos Fonseca was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Emerson Fonseca in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Cesinha Antunes saved Cantao SS from getting behind. Cesinha Antunes showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tostão Capixaba in the 73rd minute of the match. Emerson Fonseca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cesinha Antunes having to interfere. Emerson Fonseca received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 77th minute. Cesinha Antunes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 82 minutes into the game, TENERIFE's Emerson Fonseca nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Cesinha Antunes made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 5-1. Cesinha Antunes took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emerson Fonseca, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Emerson Fonseca came up free with the goalie in the 89th minute, the TENERIFE 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 Emerson Fonseca couldn't finish the play. If Emerson Fonseca had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After having played for 96 minutes, Nilson Castro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. TENERIFE's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nilson Castro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal.