Portimonense ran out the easy 3-0 winners over one-time promotion hopefuls Leixões in the Algarve last Sunday afternoon to close the gap on second-placed Penafiel to two points.
A hat-full of chances went begging during the opening period of play until January transfer window signing Fernandinho found the back of the net just after the half-hour to secure the lead for the home side.
As the second half got underway, Portimonense continued to dominate, threatening to overrun their guests, after previously very quiet referee Manuel Mota decided to take a more active part in proceedings.
The Braga official, who had conducted the first 45 minutes without a single booking, suddenly produced a flurry of nine yellow cards culminating in the 58th and 74th minute dismissals of Leixões’ Anderson and Nuno Silva.
Now superior and in numerical advantage, another Brazilian new boy, substitute Mazola, needed only two minutes on the pitch before doubling the home side’s advantage.
Samba-time had really arrived and Dyego Sousa made sure of a purely Brazilian ‘Carnaval’ when slotting home from the penalty spot to wrap up the scoring.
Manager Lázaro Oliveira will be hoping to continue his team’s four-match unbeaten run without conceding a goal this Sunday afternoon when Portimonense travel to steadily improving Aves who currently trail the top three by four points (disregarding Porto, Benfica and Sporting B teams who cannot gain promotion).
Meanwhile, mid-table Farense drew 1-1 with Madeira in their first game since manager Jorge Paixão’s departure to Sporting Braga.
