League Play-Off

Estádio Arouca
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. Matías Abraão started the match with the kick off. 4 minutes into the match, Xixebal's goal looked a bit too open when Matías Abraão came free, but Reginaldo Queiroz reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Telmo Costa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 6th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Dito Pinheiro having to interfere. 23 minutes in the game, Matías Abraão fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Reginaldo Queiroz having to interfere. Arouca EC's Nildo Capixaba got a good chance for a goal in the 24th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Dé Maciel's late challenge caught a Arouca EC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Dé Maciel helped the player get up and apologised. After 25 played minutes Xixebal got a freekick which was hit by Dé Maciel. If Nildo Capixaba had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 26th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Matías Abraão struck a weak shot in the 28th minute. Reginaldo Queiroz didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Arouca EC. When Arouca EC's Matías Abraão in the 30th minute got a chance for a shot 30th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Xixebal's goalie prevented a goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 32nd minute, Matías Abraão managed to get in a good position for a shot. Arouca EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Matías Abraão was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Reginaldo Queiroz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. If Antônio Veiga had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 39th minute, Nildo Capixaba 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 a defensive mix-up in Xixebal's zone, Matías Abraão stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Reginaldo Queiroz came out of the goal and Matías Abraão tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Reginaldo Queiroz made a fantastic save in the 42nd minute, when Nildo Capixaba sent off a good shot on target. Xixebal's Reginaldo Queiroz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Matías Abraão in the 44th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 46th minute, Nildo Capixaba managed to get in a good position for a shot. Arouca EC's supporters rose to their feet, but Nildo Capixaba was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Reginaldo Queiroz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Antônio Veiga to make the kick off. With a little luck, Arouca EC's Dito Pinheiro got control of the ball when Telmo Costa tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 55th minute, Matías Abraão 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 60th minute Nildo Capixaba shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Reginaldo Queiroz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Xixebal's Reginaldo Queiroz played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nildo Capixaba in the 61st minute of play. Matías Abraão blasted a shot towards the goal in the 64th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Reginaldo Queiroz having to make a save. 66 minutes into the game, Arouca EC's Matías Abraão nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Reginaldo Queiroz made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-0. Reginaldo Queiroz came out of the goal in the 72nd minute to try and stop a shot by Arouca EC's Matías Abraão. But to his dismay, Matías Abraão quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-0. After some careless play in the Arouca EC defense, Telmo Costa kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Dito Pinheiro. The Arouca EC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Dito Pinheiro should have stopped the shot. When Arouca EC's Matías Abraão in the 82nd minute got a chance for a shot 82nd didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Xixebal's goalie prevented a goal. Bebeto Camargo charged in rather forcefully in the 84th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Bebeto Camargo the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 85th match minute, Arouca EC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Bebeto Camargo to maneuver through the defense. Dito Pinheiro was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 86th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Léo Oliveira. 87 minutes into the game, Léo Oliveira was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Xixebal's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Arouca EC the free kick. A collision led to Xixebal getting a freekick after 87 minutes play. Léo Oliveira hit a great ball. Marcus Vianna, 88 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. It was no surprise that this one had ended in a win for the home team. Arouca EC had played much better football throughout.