LIGA BWIN: CASA PIA 1-1 PORTIMONENSE
Last Friday night, Portimonense gained an invaluable away point which ensures next season’s continued top division status without still having to face the possibility of a relegation play-off match as closest pursuers Gil Vicente, Estoril and Marítimo all failed to win over the weekend.
The match itself, played out in front of a paltry 556 spectators, turned out to be a largely uneventful affair with the opening 45 minutes offering up no more than a handful of half-chances at either end.
Lucas Soares finally caused some excitement with a great individual effort in the 69th minute which put the home side ahead, but the Algarveans responded with two late substitutions, Ricardo Matos heading a Filipe Relvas cross against the woodwork, deep into time added on, which Bryan Rochez then managed to nod home on the rebound for the draw.
Next up for manager Paulo Sérgio’s men is a home clash this Saturday evening (6pm kick off) with champions-elect Benfica in front of what is expected to be a full house.
Meanwhile, one division below, Moreirense secured promotion and an immediate return to the top tier with a 4-2 away success over at- the-time second-placed Estrela Amadora, a result which allowed Farense, 2-0 winners over Porto B, to leapfrog Amadora into the second promotion spot. The club from the Algarve’s capital face lowly Nacional de Madeira on Sunday morning and are now masters of their own immediate destiny.
By SKIP BANDELE
