On-loan Sporting Lisbon defender Pedro Silva declared “I will give my best and try to help the team to achieve its first victory” before his Portimonense debut against Rio Ave on Sunday afternoon – and promptly turned in a five-star performance.
The 28-year-old Brazilian was one of the best men on the pitch, providing the final pass for man-of-the-match Pedro Moreira’s 34th-minute second for Portimão after Calvin Kadi had opened the scoring only moments earlier.
Possible jitters caused by a Yazalde goal for the visitors midway through the second half proved short-lived as Ivanildo and Candeias combined brilliantly for the latter to establish the final 3-1 score line only five minutes later.
Thus the Algarvean newcomers were not only able to deservedly celebrate their first three-pointer of the season and steer clear of the relegation places, but also firmly lay to rest the hoodoo which had seen them fail to win an official match at the Stadium of the Algarve up to that time.
The much-improved performance from manager Litos’ well-drilled team will have pleased the majority of the 3,000 fans whose team will now be able to travel to Olhão today (Friday) with renewed confidence of emerging victorious from what is sure to be a hotly disputed Algarve derby at the top level of Portuguese football.
The 8.15pm kick-off is also being transmitted live by cable channel SportTV1.
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