LIGA NOS: PORTIMONENSE 2-0 FARENSE
Monday night saw the renewal of the Algarve’s traditionally most fiercely contested ‘Derby’ between Portimonense and Farense, with the home side running out the convincing winners thanks to a five-star performance from rising star ‘Beto’.
The 22-year-old from Lisbon – full name Norberto Bercique Gomes Betuncal – who was signed just over a year ago on the strength of his impressive 21-goal record from 36 games for third division Montijo, provided the icing on the cake of a dominant Portimonense display which left their old rivals chasing shadows for most of the encounter.
One-way traffic from the word go saw corners and crosses raining upon the Farense area with Possignolo, the outstanding Luquinha, Dener, Maurício and Anderson taking turns at keeping aptly-named Farense keeper Defendi on his toes until the interval.
There was to be no respite for the strangely lethargic visitors from the region’s capital, Beto setting out on his one-man demolition job when leaving two defenders trailing in his wake before forcing Defendi into a flying save on the hour mark.
Not much later, Luquinha, another raw diamond at only 20 years of age, produced a great solo run into the opposition area before squaring the ball into the path of the waiting Beto who curled his effort past a despairingly diving Defendi with the outside of his boot.
Beto again appeared in front of goal with only minutes remaining, but this time a last-gasp block stopped his goal-bound volley. That temporary let-off was rectified with the last play of the match, Dener finding the young striker with a defence-splitting ball from the centre of the park, which the hero of the night converted through the keeper’s legs.
The “well deserved” victory took manager Paulo Sérgio’s team off the bottom of the table into joint 14th place, with only three points separating a group of 10 clubs headed up by Santa Clara in seventh.
Portimonense are back in action this Friday when travelling north to take on Rio Ave who are level in the current Liga NOS pecking order.
By SKIP BANDELE
