Following the 2-1 home win over FC Porto some 300 Olhanense fans made the journey to V.Setúbal in the hope that a win or a draw would be sufficient to keep the Algarve’s only Primeira Liga team in the top flight. But it was not to be as the home side recorded a 3-1 win to consign Olhanense to the 2nd Division after five seasons doing battle with the likes of Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto and SC Braga.
The home side took the lead with their first attack when Zequinha hammered the ball unto the roof of the net after good work by Pedro Tiba and João Mário. Ten minutes later and Olhanense were level when a mistake by keeper Kieszek presented Dionisi with the easiest of chances.
Olhanense were now in the ascendancy and within minutes Dionisi had rattled the Setúbal woodwork. But the whole nature of the game was to change in the space of five minutes.
Centre-back Kroldrup received two yellow cards and took an early bath with just 33 minutes on the clock. In the energy sapping heat the 10 men now had a mountain to climb as the home side sent wave after wave of attacks down the right flank.
Thanks to the heroics of keeper Belec to score remained level at the break. V.Setúbal were the masters in the second-half. Frederico Venâncio headed home Pedro Tiba’s cross midway through the half and, with a minute to go, Rafael Martins sealed Olhanense’s fate with a third goal.
Next season will see Olhanense join Farense and Portimonense in the 2nd Division when there should be some feisty local derbies. Olhanense President Isidoro Sousa has stated that the Olhanense SAD, which took control last year led by Italian entrepreneur Igor Campedelli, will continue to support the club and are looking for a swift return to the top flight.
Sousa said: “We are already preparing for next season, harnessing all the frustration and sadness that we have experienced and turning it into a positive strength to help us return to the top league as soon as possible. It is where this club, the supporters, the Algarve, the town of Olhão and its people deserve to be.”
By CHRIS WRIGHT
Photo: Fans of the two clubs in festive mood before the game
