League Play-Off

Taquaracu
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. Jacinto Tasso started the match with the kick off. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lino Velloso in the 3rd minute of play forced Taquaracu's goalkeeper Glauco Paraibano to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 5th minute Dagoberto Fernandez shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Glauco Paraibano saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Glauco Paraibano took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Dagoberto Fernandez, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 12th minute, Luís Gustavo Souza hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Taquaracu's Gernando Paraibano couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 13th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for Esporte Clube Bahia. Dagoberto Fernandez took the ball and in the 15 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Glauco Paraibano. Glauco Paraibano dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 0-1. Frank Favoretto's late challenge caught a Taquaracu's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Frank Favoretto helped the player get up and apologised. In the 26th match minute, Esporte Clube Bahia was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Frank Favoretto to maneuver through the defense. Ricardinho Valladares blasted a shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Oscar Lara having to make a save. Ricardinho Valladares sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 41 minutes in the game, Reynaldo Vides fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Oscar Lara having to interfere. Manuel Paulista kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. If Ricardinho Valladares had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Wágner Bastos was the one to do the kick off. Luís Gustavo Souza hit a great freekick 51 minutes into the match. Ricardinho Valladares fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Oscar Lara having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Reynaldo Vides in the 60th minute of play forced Esporte Clube Bahia's goalkeeper Oscar Lara to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 64th match minute, Taquaracu was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vinícius Senna to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Dagoberto Fernandez managed to get in a good position for a shot. Esporte Clube Bahia's supporters rose to their feet, but Dagoberto Fernandez was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Glauco Paraibano breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After a defensive mix-up in Taquaracu's zone, Wágner Bastos stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Glauco Paraibano came out of the goal and Wágner Bastos tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience was convinced that Wágner Bastos's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Glauco Paraibano was relentless in the 73rd minute of the game. Dagoberto Fernandez struck a weak shot in the 74th minute. Glauco Paraibano didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Esporte Clube Bahia. 79 minutes into the game, Lino Velloso was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Esporte Clube Bahia's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Taquaracu the free kick. After 79 played minutes Esporte Clube Bahia got a freekick which was hit by Lino Velloso. Oscar Lara showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Reynaldo Vides in the 82nd minute of the match. Ricardinho Valladares sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 89 minutes, Wágner Bastos managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Esporte Clube Bahia's supporters crossed their fingers, but Wágner Bastos was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ricardinho Valladares in the 91st minute of play forced Esporte Clube Bahia's goalkeeper Oscar Lara to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Wágner Bastos's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Glauco Paraibano read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play. The Esporte Clube Bahia supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Esporte Clube Bahia would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.