The Municipality of Olhão has two teams striving to gain promotion from the Campeonato de Portugal to Liga 3.

At the halfway point in the Promotion South Section is Moncarapachense who look the more likely to succeed.

A hard fought 0-0 home draw against Os Belenenses (Lisbon) leaves the Moncarapacho team in third place on eight points, chasing one of the top two spots. Only negative for the home side was when Gabriel Almeida was sent-off two minutes from time after picking up a second yellow card. GD Fontinhas lead the way on 10 points with Os Belenenses on nine.

This Sunday, Moncarapachense entertain leaders Fontinhas (Azores) at the Estádio Dr. António João Eusébio, kick-off 2pm.

Olhanense, after topping Serie F, had high hopes of going on to challenge for promotion. Two draws have been followed by three defeats to leave the former Primeira Liga outfit firmly cemented at the bottom on two points.

In a disastrous week for the Olhão team, Italian manager Carlo Perrone left the club midweek, with assistant Jorge Viegas, 32, taking charge. Viegas has, for some years, worked in the club’s youth ranks and, for the last three seasons, been part of the first team staff.

The trip to Sintra to play Sertanense was a ‘must win’ scenario, but a goal down after just five minutes and a player short after 17 minutes ruined any chance of a positive result. Djoulou was shown a yellow card in the 11th and 17th minute and the 1-0 defeat means that Olhanense have now failed to find the back of the net in over seven hours of football.

On Sunday, they face another difficult trip as they travel to the capital to play second place Os Belenenses.

By CHRIS WRIGHT