LIGA NOS: PORTIMONENSE 4-1 GIL VICENTE
After spending two weeks on the road, Portimonense returned to their Municipal Stadium last Sunday afternoon in time to celebrate manager Paulo Sérgio’s first anniversary in charge of the club with the biggest win of the season.
The always well-organised home side dominated from start to finish, the first corner of the match resulting in Maurício scoring with his head after only 46 seconds.
Several good opportunities later, Maurício was adjudged to have played the ball with his hand and Lino duly converted the resulting penalty, but parity proved to be of short duration.
Just after the half-hour mark, Salmani met Boa Morte’s cut-back first time to restore the lead on his full debut. The 24-year-old Iranian winger continued to impress, pulling another effort inches wide, before fellow newcomer Moufi struck the post.
Wholesale changes during and after the interval by the visitors did not improve their situation, and Boa Morte added a cracker halfway through the second playing period before substitute Beto found the top right-hand corner of the Gil Vicente goal to leave the score at 4-1.
The imposing victory, which takes Portimonense three points clear of the relegation zone, should leave Paulo Sérgio’s men in good heart to face their most difficult task of the season to date – a visit to unbeaten runaway league leaders Sporting Lisbon this Saturday evening – força!
Off the pitch, the Algarveans’ failure to register new signing Honda before the closure of the transfer window has resulted in the Japanese playmaker rescinding his contract after only five days in search of another club, probably in the Middle East.
By SKIP BANDELE
