League Play-Off

Catalao
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Dráusio Zonta kicked off to start the match. In a very dangerous position, a player in Catalao EC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 7th minute. Penalty! After a defensive mix-up in Catalao EC's zone, Eurico Neto stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Reynaldo Simões came out of the goal and Eurico Neto tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Frank Fontes during the 18th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Catalao EC getting a freekick after 18 minutes play. Frank Fontes hit a great ball. In the 23rd minute of the match Tarcisio Messias shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Sydney Ribeiro showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After some careless play in the Catalao EC defense, Eurico Neto kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Reynaldo Simões. The Catalao EC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Reynaldo Simões should have stopped the shot. Sydney Ribeiro made an important save on a dangerous shot by Gustavo Massa in the 33rd minute. Reynaldo Simões took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marcus Soares, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 38th minute, Gustavo Massa 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. In the 39th minute, Catalao EC's Dráusio Zonta dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-2. Reynaldo Simões took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eurico Neto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Eurico Neto in the 48th minute of play forced Catalao EC's goalkeeper Reynaldo Simões to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After the first half Guapiuru SS were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eurico Neto stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute, Custódio de Carvalho hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The attack was good, but when Dráusio Zonta in the 53rd minute was about to shoot he didn't kick quite good enough and the ball went high over goal. In the 61st minute, Gustavo Massa 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 some fancy dribbling in the 63rd minute, Dráusio Zonta managed to get in a good position for a shot. Catalao EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Dráusio Zonta was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Sydney Ribeiro breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Dráusio Zonta had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 65th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Reynaldo Simões made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Eurico Neto in the 72nd minute of play. Reynaldo Simões took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Eurico Neto, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The audience was convinced that Dráusio Zonta's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Sydney Ribeiro was relentless in the 75th minute of the game. After 75 minutes, Cléber Paiva mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Guapiuru SS and the Catalao EC players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 76th match minute, Guapiuru SS was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cléber Paiva to maneuver through the defense. Dráusio Zonta might have been able to make a better finish in the 81st minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Sydney Ribeiro. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Dráusio Zonta ran back to his position shaking his head. Eurico Neto might have been able to make a better finish in the 88th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Reynaldo Simões. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Eurico Neto ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Marcus Soares got free with Reynaldo Simões in the 97th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Guapiuru SS's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.