League Play-Off

Caverna do Dragão
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Leonel Seco got the match started through his kick off. Jefferson Rossi took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Leonel Seco, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, Goianorte's Geraldo Costa got control of the ball when Wincent Grabski tried to sneak it across the goal line. Vasco da Gama FC's Matthijs Bergen got a good chance for a goal in the 9th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Matthijs Bergen struck a weak shot in the 16th minute. Geraldo Costa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Vasco da Gama FC. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Ronaldo Fenomeno managed to get in a good position for a shot. Vasco da Gama FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Ronaldo Fenomeno was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Geraldo Costa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 26th minute the ball was on its way in behind Goianorte's goalkeeper Geraldo Costa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 27 minutes into the game, Ronaldo Fenomeno cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Geraldo Costa was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 31st match minute, Goianorte was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Vladimir Severo to maneuver through the defense. In the 32nd minute of the match Wincent Grabski shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Geraldo Costa showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Ronaldo Fenomeno blasted a shot towards the goal in the 34th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Geraldo Costa having to make a save. After 34 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Goianorte! Goianorte:s Geraldo Costa showed great skill when he stopped Wincent Grabski:s penalty. The audience was convinced that Ronaldo Fenomeno's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Geraldo Costa was relentless in the 37th minute of the game. Wincent Grabski succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 2-0 in the 38th playminute. If Wincent Grabski had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Ronaldo Fenomeno to strike the kick off in the second half. Geraldo Costa came out of the goal in the 53rd minute to try and stop a shot by Vasco da Gama FC's Matthijs Bergen. But to his dismay, Matthijs Bergen quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-1. Vasco da Gama FC's Jefferson Rossi played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Reynaldo Arce in the 59th minute of play. Rafael Caire hit a great freekick 59 minutes into the match. Amadeu Ramos took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 60th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Jefferson Rossi. Vasco da Gama FC's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Cícero de Azevedo could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 65th minute of the match, but Jefferson Rossi made a huge save. Geraldo Costa stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ronaldo Fenomeno's shot from short distance in the 66th minute. Ronaldo Fenomeno took the ball and in the 69 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Geraldo Costa. Geraldo Costa dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 4-1. In the 83rd minute, Ronaldo Fenomeno made a precise shot to the right of Geraldo Costa. Goianorte's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 5-1. When Wincent Grabski came up free with the goalie in the 89th minute, the Vasco da Gama FC 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 Wincent Grabski couldn't finish the play. After having played for 98 minutes, Ronaldo Fenomeno managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Vasco da Gama FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ronaldo Fenomeno was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal.