League Play-Off

Willie Davids
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) With his leg Nuno Lima managed to avoid a goal in the 7thth minute, when Maringá Futebol Clube's Umberto Paraense fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After having played for 9 minutes, Umberto Paraense managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maringá Futebol Clube's supporters crossed their fingers, but Umberto Paraense was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Pedro Luís Mazza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 16th minute. Rogério Correia tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Luisinho Monteiro received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Nuno Lima came out and tried to block the shot, but Luisinho Monteiro slotted it home off the left post making it 1-0 in the 18th minute. Nuno Lima made a fantastic save in the 21st minute, when Luisinho Monteiro sent off a good shot on target. In the 26th minute Pedro Luís Mazza shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rogério Correia saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The supporters of Maringá Futebol Clube booed when Joaci was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Natã Teixeira didn't get a good kick on the ball. Rogério Correia showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Danilo Antunes, who was totally free with the ball in the 28th minute. 32 minutes into the match, Luisinho Monteiro dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Nuno Lima, 3-0. In the 38th minute, Umberto Paraense 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. Umberto Paraense recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 48th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 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 players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Umberto Paraense was the one to do the kick off. Natã Teixeira hit a great freekick 54 minutes into the match. After having played for 57 minutes, Umberto Paraense managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Maringá Futebol Clube's supporters crossed their fingers, but Umberto Paraense was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 58 minutes into the game, Maringá Futebol Clube's Umberto Paraense nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Nuno Lima made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 4-0. 63 minutes into the match, Joaci's goal looked a bit too open when Afonsinho Pombal came free, but Nuno Lima reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nuno Lima made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Umberto Paraense in the 65th minute of play. After 66 played minutes Joaci got a freekick which was hit by Natã Teixeira. Pedro Luís Mazza received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Rogério Correia tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 72 minutes into the match, Umberto Paraense notched a goal, 5-0, to the right of Joaci's Nuno Lima. Nuno Lima was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 77th minute, Umberto Paraense 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. After 80th play minutes Umberto Paraense shot 6-0, a short shot which went by Nuno Lima and just under the crossbar into goal. Luisinho Monteiro received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 83rd minute. Nuno Lima tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 90th minute, Umberto Paraense left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Maringá Futebol Clube fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 7-0. Frank Pimenta hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pedro Luís Mazza in the 98th minute of play forced Maringá Futebol Clube's goalkeeper Rogério Correia to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Danilo Antunes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Maringá Futebol Clube had played much better football throughout.