Portimonense suffered their first pre-season defeat when going down 2-0 to French top division side Lille at the municipal stadium last week.
Manager António Folha’s starting eleven featuring a strong defensive unit made up of Marcel, Ruben Fernandes and Jadson looked comfortable and should have taken an early lead through Manafá but for the winger’s weak finish. Pires did much better just after the half-hour mark, but the veteran striker’s header was adjudged to not have crossed the line by referee Marcos Brazão.
Jadson was then forced off injured and Lille’s Júnior Alonso took advantage of the resulting reorganisation at the back to put the visitors ahead just before the interval. Portimonense again dominated during much of the second period of play and good efforts from Dener, Wellington and Pires again should have put the Algarveans out of sight before El Ghazi doubled Lille’s advantage towards the end of the match.
Folha is likely to address his side’s lack of goals by drafting in recent U-23 signing Tadfiq Jibril, who found the target 25 times during 33 appearances for Vila Real last season, while efforts to sign forwards Suzuki (Kashima Antlers) and André Pereira (FC Porto) before the August 9 transfer deadline continue. Back-on-loan Ewerton could also take a more prominent attacking role while Brendon, Koike and Gustavo have been deemed surplus to requirements ahead of this Sunday afternoon’s first official game of the season, the rearranged Allianz League Cup tie against Rio Ave, who were in Europa League qualifying action last Thursday.
By SKIP BANDELE
