Portimão have never won a league game of any description in the Stadium of the Algarve and that statistic did not change against Naval on Sunday afternoon.
Forced to play their home matches ‘away’ until October due to the necessary alterations to their own stadium, manager Litos’ men never looked at ease on the expansive pitch.
The visitors took advantage of a fourth-minute lapse of defensive concentration to grab an early lead, which Portimonense were to chase for the remainder of the game.
Andre Pinto and substitute Lito came closest to restoring parity when hitting post and bar in quick succession shortly after Naval had been reduced to ten men in the 74th minute, but the much sought after goal did not arrive.
After two games of the current season, the Algarveans find themselves in the same boat as reigning champions Benfica, namely still searching for their first point, something the team hope to achieve at Paços de Ferreira this weekend.
With any luck, the club’s latest and to date most high profile signing should be on the pitch by the time that match kicks off.
The 25-year-old Chinese international striker Dong Fangzhuo, whose last station was Legia Warsaw, still keeps in touch with his former Manchester United team mates Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani as well as then assistant coach Carlos Queiroz and hopes to make a name for himself in the south of Portugal.
When on loan from United at Antwerp in Belgium, Dong scored 33 goals in 61 appearances, a ratio which would guarantee him instant adulation in Portimão if repeated, as well as almost certain survival in the top tier for his new club.
