LIGA PORTUGAL BWIN: PORTIMONENSE 1-0 CHAVES
Portimonense beat Chaves by the odd goal last Friday night to record their most successful start ever to a top tier season with five victories from their opening seven matches.
The visitors from the north began the encounter much the stronger, João Mendes forcing a good Kosuke Nakamura save before the post prevented a Hector Hernandez header from giving Chaves an early lead.
However, the complexion of the match changed dramatically just after the quarter-hour mark when Juninho bundled Luquinha off the ball in the area and Paulo Estrela successfully converted the subsequent penalty kick.
Once in front, Portimonense never looked back and proceeded to dominate affairs, Bryan Rochez, Estrela and Welinton Júnior all rattling the woodwork while only a good double-save from keeper Paulo Vítor stopped the home team from moving further ahead before the interval.
The second half proved to be less eventful despite an attempted Chaves fight-back, manager Paulo Sérgio’s well-organised defence standing firm as Nakamura easily dealt with a number of half-chances.
Thus, Portimonense remain in a ‘European’ joint fourth place alongside Boavista behind leaders Benfica, Braga and Porto going into the international break with a trip to 15th-placed Vizela on Saturday, October 1 next on the agenda.
By SKIP BANDELE
