League Play-Off

Minas Arena
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) Manuelsinho AD's Afonsinho Silva started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. When Kléber Cavalcante came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the Cruzeiro 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 Kléber Cavalcante couldn't finish the play. Giuseppe Guerra showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Afonsinho Silva, who was totally free with the ball in the 5th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by César Duarte in the 9th minute of play forced Manuelsinho AD's goalkeeper Rafa Pontes to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Manuelsinho AD booed when Cruzeiro was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 11 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gilmar Abraão didn't get a good kick on the ball. After 12 played minutes, Manuelsinho AD's Oscar Freire shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Giuseppe Guerra came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Manuelsinho AD reached it. An unexpectedly hard shot by Evaristo Catarinense in the 16th minute of play forced Cruzeiro's goalkeeper Giuseppe Guerra to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Petru Bejgăneanu hit a great freekick 17 minutes into the match. Kléber Cavalcante might have been able to make a better finish in the 22nd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Rafa Pontes. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kléber Cavalcante ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 24th minute the ball was on its way in behind Manuelsinho AD's goalkeeper Rafa Pontes, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. In the 25th minute, Tomé Meireles left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Manuelsinho AD fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. Giuseppe Guerra took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Afonsinho Silva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. César Duarte could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 34th minute of the match, but Rafa Pontes made a huge save. Kléber Cavalcante received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 36th minute. Rafa Pontes tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half Manuelsinho AD were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Kléber Cavalcante to strike the kick off in the second half. Afonsinho Silva hit a great freekick 50 minutes into the match. In the 52nd minute, César Duarte 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. 56 minutes into the match, César Duarte notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Manuelsinho AD's Rafa Pontes. Rafa Pontes was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Afonsinho Silva sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 62nd minute Kléber Cavalcante shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rafa Pontes saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Rafa Pontes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Petru Bejgăneanu, who was totally free with the ball in the 64th minute. In the 71st minute, Kléber Cavalcante 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 73 minutes, Kléber Cavalcante made it 2-1 with a short kick to the right side. Manuelsinho AD's Rafa Pontes tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. Rafa Pontes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kléber Cavalcante, who was totally free with the ball in the 83rd minute. Rafa Pontes showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from César Duarte, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Mário de Queirós struck a weak shot in the 90th minute. Rafa Pontes didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cruzeiro. Oscar Freire kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match.