by CHRIS WRIGHT
After defeating an AC Milan youth side 1-0 in his first match at the helm, Sergio Conceição was handed a rather tough welcome to life in the Liga, as goals from Salim Benachour and Danilo Dias saw Olhanense 2-0 down at Maritimo after half-an-hour before Rui Duarte hammered home a penalty on the stroke of half-time.
However, the interval came at precisely the wrong moment for Conceição’s men, and Maritimo were able to keep them at bay and hold out for their first Liga win since November.
With six players unavailable through injury it was a makeshift Olhanense team that battled through the first-half as Maritimo, with Luis Olim in scintillating form, ran them ragged.
Olhanense’s new manager made various changes at the interval and he will have been encouraged by the visitors’ second-half performance.
If Salvador Agra’s surging right-wing run had resulted in a half decent cross to the unmarked Djalmir then the outcome could have been different.
Olhanense are now a mere two points above the relegation zone. A strong and passionate performance will be required on Sunday when Beira-Mar are the visitors to the Jose Arcanjo Stadium, Olhao kick-off: 4.00pm. and it is hoped the fans will turn-out in force.
On Monday, January 23 Sporting Lisbon are the opposition, kick-off 8.15pm.
