League Play-Off

ITAJUBA
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Júlio Lira got the match started through his kick off. ITAJUBA's Sidnei Batista played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Júlio Lira in the 6th minute of play. Hidrolina's Olavo Mendes got a good chance for a goal in the 13th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Osmar Fantini fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 16th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ciro Cardozo having to interfere. After a defensive mix-up in ITAJUBA's zone, Júlio Lira stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Sidnei Batista came out of the goal and Júlio Lira tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 33rd of the match, Wilton Gaspar tried to place the ball in the upper right corner, but Ciro Cardozo got in the way and made a wonderful save. 36 minutes into the match, ITAJUBA's goal looked a bit too open when Júlio Lira came free, but Sidnei Batista reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Sidnei Batista took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Antônio Carlos Botelho, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Wilton Gaspar had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 46th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Wilton Gaspar was the one to do the kick off. Ciro Cardozo took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Osmar Fantini, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 61st minute, Júlio Lira reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Sidnei Batista. The goal made the score 0-1. Rubinho Neiva might have been able to make a better finish in the 66th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Ciro Cardozo. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Rubinho Neiva ran back to his position shaking his head. 66 minutes into the match, Rubinho Neiva had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ciro Cardozo. Hidrolina's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Rubinho Neiva was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 76th minute Júlio Lira shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Sidnei Batista saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Antônio Carlos Botelho had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Júlio Lira struck a weak shot in the 79th minute. Sidnei Batista didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Hidrolina. When Bruninho de Medeiros fell near the penalty area in the 81st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored ITAJUBA's protests and gave Bruninho de Medeiros a yellow card for diving instead. After 81 played minutes ITAJUBA got a freekick which was hit by Bruninho de Medeiros. Afonsinho Trancoso was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 82nd played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Júlio Lira in the 85th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Sidnei Batista prevented the ball from getting in the gole. The supporters of Hidrolina booed when ITAJUBA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 86 match minutes in a wonderful position. Bruninho de Medeiros didn't get a good kick on the ball. Afonsinho Trancoso, 87 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. If Júlio Lira had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 92nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a rather tough play, ITAJUBA's Bruninho de Medeiros got a free kick in the 93rd minute. Hidrolina's Júlio Lira got a good chance for a goal in the 96th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. A hard shot by Christiano Lopes from long distance, 97 minutes into the match, got Sidnei Batista's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. When the referee blew the final whistle, you could see the dissatisfaction in the Hidrolina players' eyes. They were disappointed they hadn't taken more from the game.