By CHRIS WRIGHT
Sérgio Conceição made one change, Dady replaced Yontcha up front, for the visit of Gil Vicente.
Last season’s promoted champions had recently ended Porto’s 55-game unbeaten run in the league and would be a tough nut to crack.
The Barcelos team were without the influential Hugo Vieira (injured) and top scorer Claudio (suspended) so manager Paulo Alves gave Zé Luís, a recent loan signing from SC Braga, his first start.
The home side were slow to settle but ended up dominating the first-half, with Gil Vicente having no answer to the pace of Salvador Agra and intelligent running of Wilson Eduardo.
But it is in front of goal that Olhanense frustrate their fans. Dady, Eduardo and Agra all failed to find the net which was partly due to the fine performance of keeper Adriano.
Early in the second period Toy replaced Rui Duarte in midfield but it was Fernando Alexandre who impressed as he stifled a more confident Gil Vicente.
Midway through the half Mauricio towered above the Gil Vicente defence but his powerful header whistled over the bar.
With ten minutes to go, last week’s hero, when he grabbed a late equaliser at Feirense, André Pinto turned villain when he bundled over José Luis inside the box. Up stepped André Cunha but his well placed penalty was dramatically saved by Fabiano Freitas.
This was the keeper’s second penalty save of the season, he previously denied Hulk in the 0-0 draw with Porto.
Pinto was shown a second yellow card but the ten men held out and could have snatched a late winner.
A long ball down field evaded the visitors defence and fell to Yontcha who blazed his shot over the bar when a more controlled effort looked to be the better option.
The point gained leaves Olhanense in eighth place on 23 points.
On Monday evening they are away to bottom side U.Leiria. The game is live on Sport TV kick-off 8.15pm.
THE BIG CLASH
There will be very few people on the streets of Portugal tonight (Friday) as they pack the cafés and bars to watch league champions Benfica take on league leaders FC Porto.
Benfica have stuttered in recent weeks with their first defeat of the season, 2-1 at V.Guimarães, followed by a 0-0 draw with Academica last weekend.
Whilst Porto won 2-0 against Feirense it is SC Braga, who put four past V.Guimaraes, who have an outside chance of lifting the league trophy for the first time.
They are in impressive form, nine consecutive league wins, which has propelled them to within three points of the top two.
