League Play-Off

Estádio Argoim
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Maurício da Cunha fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 4th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ramiro Barros having to interfere. In the 6th minute, Dedê Martins hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Leonel Reis in the 12th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ulisses Hermes saved Argoim from getting behind. After some fancy dribbling in the 14th minute, Zé Pedro Cordeiro managed to get in a good position for a shot. Mairi's supporters rose to their feet, but Zé Pedro Cordeiro was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Ulisses Hermes breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Leonel Reis had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 22nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 23 minutes into the match, Leonel Reis had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ulisses Hermes. Argoim's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Leonel Reis was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. When Olívio Brito fell near the penalty area in the 26th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Mairi's protests and gave Olívio Brito a yellow card for diving instead. After 26 played minutes Mairi got a freekick which was hit by Olívio Brito. Maurício da Cunha in the 28thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Ramiro Barros, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Maurício da Cunha got free with Ramiro Barros in the 34th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Zé Pedro Cordeiro recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 35th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The audience thought a goal was coming when Maurício da Cunha got free with Ramiro Barros in the 41st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 43 minutes into the match, Maurício da Cunha notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Mairi's Ramiro Barros. Ramiro Barros was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. 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. Zé Pedro Cordeiro was the one to do the kick off. After 51 minutes, Nando Neves mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Argoim and the Mairi players grew even worse after the yellow card. Nando Neves hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. Ulisses Hermes was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Zé Pedro Cordeiro showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-2 in the 54 minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Fiori de Souza in the 58th minute of play forced Mairi's goalkeeper Ramiro Barros to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 59th match minute, Mairi was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cacá Saldanha to maneuver through the defense. Ramiro Barros made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Maurício da Cunha in the 61st minute of play. When Maurício da Cunha came up free with the goalie in the 62nd minute, the Argoim 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 Maurício da Cunha couldn't finish the play. Fiori de Souza sent away a hard shot on goal in the 66th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 69 minutes, Zé Pedro Cordeiro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mairi's supporters crossed their fingers, but Zé Pedro Cordeiro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Vitório Pinheiro took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 71st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Ramiro Barros. Mairi's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 76th minute, Fiori de Souza ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Ramiro Barros was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After 79 minutes of play, Mairi's Leonel Reis made it 2-3 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Ulisses Hermes was left in no man's land by his defense there! Leonel Reis could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 85th minute of the match, but Ulisses Hermes made a huge save. Manoel Paes kicked well hit freekick during the 93rd minute of the match. The Mairi 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.