League Play-Off

Alfredo Jaconi
Spectators: 32 (Terracing: 25, Seating: 7, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Hernani Leal got the match started through his kick off. In the 4th minute, Hernani Leal hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 5 minutes into the match, EC JUVENTUDE's goal looked a bit too open when Hernani Leal came free, but Durval da Costa reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ezequiel Pontes in the 7th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Durval da Costa prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 9th minute the ball was on its way in behind SuperSport United's goalkeeper Edu Abraão, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Ezequiel Pontes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 13th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 17th minute, Dedê Rosa managed to get in a good position for a shot. EC JUVENTUDE's supporters rose to their feet, but Dedê Rosa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Edu Abraão breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The crowd rose to their feet as EC JUVENTUDE's Dedê Rosa slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Edu Abraão. That made the score 1-0 after 23 minutes of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 31st minute, Dedê Rosa managed to get in a good position for a shot. EC JUVENTUDE's supporters rose to their feet, but Dedê Rosa was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Edu Abraão breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Edu Abraão didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Augusto Borges went, in the 32nd minute, to the upper right corner, 2-0 was the resulting score. Alfredo de Senna fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Durval da Costa having to interfere. In the 38th minute, Marcos Borges hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. João Augusto Damião's late challenge caught a SuperSport United's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. João Augusto Damião helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, EC JUVENTUDE's João Augusto Damião got a free kick in the 41st minute. Durval da Costa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hernani Leal in the 42nd minute of play. Ezequiel Pontes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-0. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Dedê Rosa to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 52nd minute Dedê Rosa shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Edu Abraão saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 59thth minute of the game Alfredão Vides who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but SuperSport United's Edu Abraão was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. 60 minutes into the match, EC JUVENTUDE's goalkeeper Durval da Costa had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Ezequiel Pontes. Dedê Rosa sent away a hard shot on goal in the 63rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Dedê Rosa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Edu Abraão having to interfere. Edu Abraão showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Dedê Rosa in the 66th minute of the match. Alfredão Vides received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Edu Abraão tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 70th minute, Alfredão Vides managed to get in a good position for a shot. EC JUVENTUDE's supporters rose to their feet, but Alfredão Vides was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Edu Abraão breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 71st match minute, EC JUVENTUDE was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dedê Rosa to maneuver through the defense. When the match had gone on for 76 minutes, Alfredo de Senna took a quick shot and it went in 2-1 without a chance for Durval da Costa to make any attempt to save it. After having played for 79 minutes, Dedê Rosa managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. EC JUVENTUDE's supporters crossed their fingers, but Dedê Rosa was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 90th minute, Dedê Rosa ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Edu Abraão was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-1. If Augusto Borges had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 93rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. EC JUVENTUDE's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.