Match Report
Merelinense, 9th on 33 points, faced an 18-point deficit to Amarante (2nd, 51). Merelinense ranked 2nd in the league on five-round form, well above their 9th table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Amarante 1.65 scored and 0.96 conceded per game, Merelinense 1.23 and 1.23, with the league averaging 1.23.
Amarante carried a 9-game unbeaten run into this.
Estádio Municipal de Amarante staged the fixture, a ground that holds 8,000. Half-time and full-time told different stories: it was 1-1 at the break, before 1 more goal closed it at 2-1.
Goal scorers
Amarante: Balotelli (17'), Ivandro (47') · Merelinense: Celso Sidney (39')
Key stats
Total shots: 14-6 · On target: 4-3 · Corners: 7-2