Portimonense’s long journey for what must be one of the most distant away fixtures in European football proved fruitless despite the Algarve team’s almost complete domination of their opponents.
Santa Clara were forced to rely on counter attacks as Portimão stormed forward. Unfortunately two defensive errors during the first half resulted in two goals for the home side, Pipo scoring the second just before the interval.
Despite Portimão’s superiority the visitors had only a Ben Traore strike to show for their efforts during the second playing period, Stefanovic in the Santa Clara goal thwarting all other opportunities to draw level.
That latest 2-1 defeat leaves the Algarveans rooted to the bottom of the Liga Orangina table but judging by performances to date a change in fortune is due sooner rather than later.
The next opportunity to start climbing upwards will come on Sunday when joint leaders Leixoes visit Portimão.
