Olhanense were in rampant mood as they cemented their place at the top of the Campeonato de Portugal Division D with a five-goal haul against Fabril do Barreiro (Lisbon) at the Estádio José Arcanjo last Sunday.
Manager Vasco Faísca was able to name an unchanged team from the one that drew away at Montijo the previous week. With just five minutes on the clock, Sapara was played in down the left, where he made a beeline for goal, and despite the keeper narrowing the angle, the Nigerian winger managed to squeeze the ball inside the near post.
Centre-forward João Vasco added the second on the half-hour mark as Leleco chipped a peach of a ball over the Fabril defence. The game was sewn-up in the five minutes before the interval.
Firstly, Olhanense were awarded a penalty which Caleb rolled to the left for Hassan to run on to and slot home. The visitors’ strong complaints were waved aside by referee João Branco, who two minutes later sent-off França to reduce Fabril to 10-men.
Ten minutes after the interval, Olhanense skipper Leleco received a great ovation as he took a well-earned rest after yet another classy midfield display.
Leonardo Lelo, 19, a product of the Olhanense youth programme, Malta international Muscat and Joshua were particularly impressive in defence as they thwarted the occasional Fabril attack.
Goals from Hassan (63′) and João Vasco (68′) took the final score to 5-0 as the Olhão side’s total for the season moved on to 25. In the top three leagues – Primeira Liga, Segunda Liga and Campeonato de Portugal – Olhanense has the best attack with two more goals than Benfica and four more than FC Porto who have both played a game more than the Algarve side.
A tough trip to Sintra to play 1º Dezembro on Sunday will further test the league leaders’ credentials. The next home game at the Estádio José Arcanjo is on Sunday, November 17 against Sacavenense (Lisbon) who have lost all four away games to date.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
