With the José Arcanjo Stadium pitch requiring further remedial work, Olhanense were forced to play their latest fixture against mid-table Amora at the Olhão Municipal Stadium. Manager Vasco Faísca made one change from the team that won 2-0 at Alverca, leaving top scorer Sapara on the bench with Diogo Martins taking his place.
Olhanense had a slight advantage in the early exchanges on the astro-turf pitch, but it was Amora who took the lead after 12 minutes when Roberto headed home a right-wing corner.
Olhanense levelled matters on the half-hour mark as centre-forward Hassan, on a rich run of form, headed home Leleco’s free-kick from the left.
Olhanense came out for the second half in a more confident mood and, 12 minutes after the restart, took a deserved lead when skipper Leleco jinxed through the visitors’ defence to give Hassan the simplest of chances, his third goal in two games.
Olhanense were now dictating play and had ample opportunities to extend their lead. One reason they did not was the display by Amora keeper Cléber Santana who made several stunning saves including a double save midway through the second period that would have graced any Primeira Liga ground.
The former Olhanense keeper – he made 42 appearances over the last two seasons – undoubtedly kept his team in the game and when Abel Joshua hit a sweet volley from a corner deep into stoppage time to level the score, much of the credit for a point won, against the odds, must go to an outstanding performance by Cléber Santana.
The draw brought to an end Olhanense’s eight-match winning home run stretching back to last April. The Olhão team has had their lead at the top of the Campeonato de Portugal Division D reduced to two points as second place Real SC won 4-1 at home to Lusitano GC Évora. Olhanense now face two difficult away games at Loures (6th) on Sunday and Pinhalnovense (3rd) a week later.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
