Over 600 fans including a sizeable contingent of holidaymakers from the Midlands attended Portimonense’s first league match of the new season last Saturday afternoon.
While the vocal support of the lone home drummer was enthusiastic, the action on the pitch proved to be somewhat sedate.
Visiting Sporting Covilhã’s game was overly-elaborate – intricate moves breaking down long before threatening their host’s goal mouth. As a result, the best opportunity of the first half fell to Portimonense defender Ivo Nicolau who looked certain to score until opposition keeper Taborda’s inspired interception.
After the break, his opposite number, Ricardo Ferreira, was called on more frequently to demonstrate his own skills as Covilhã pressed forward in search of that elusive goal.
However, it was once more the home side who conjured up the more dangerous scoring opportunity which, this time, was converted by Fabricio to hand Portimonense the lead.
Any premature celebrations then became muted six minutes short of the final whistle when always-dangerous Covilhã forward Tatui saw his persistence rewarded with the equaliser which left the game drawn at one a piece.
After the match, Portimonense presented their latest reinforcements in the shape of 21-year-old forward Bata and young midfielder Marakis, both on loan from Nacional and Marítimo da Madeira respectively, as well as Brazilian trio Ewerton, Adelino and Rafinha – the additions should give the squad more strength in depth in order to cope with a season which will comprise of 46 league games alone.
Portimonense will celebrate its 100th anniversary this Friday.
By Skip Bandele
