LIGA BWIN: SPORTING BRAGA 4-1 PORTIMONENSE
Champions League contenders Braga, involved in a three-way battle with Benfica and Porto for the two automatic qualifying places, proved too strong for Portimonense last Saturday afternoon.
Abel Ruiz opened the scoring from close range following some good work from Bruma as early as the second minute. Iuri Medeiros then doubled the advantage with a direct free kick just after the half-hour mark before a Niakaté header made it three.
A deflected Rui Gomes shot already deep into first half injury time managed to pull one back for the Algarveans, but there were no further signs of a possible revival after the break and a Ricardo Horta solo effort 20 minutes before full time established the final score line.
Portimonense thus remain in 13th place on 33 points ahead of Friday’s trip to mid-table Casa Pia, still a very comfortable eleven points clear of third-from-bottom Marítimo who also lost and, with only four matches remaining, look to be the most likely candidates to contest the relegation play-off with the third-placed second division club at the end of the season.
That ‘do-or-die’ encounter could well involve Farense (57 points), currently disputing the two promotion places with Moreirense (67 points) and Estrela Amadora (59 points) – that trio a clear of the rest -, who face each other this weekend, whilst the Algarveans take on Porto B on Sunday afternoon.
By SKIP BANDELE
