Portimonense dominated fellow top division newcomers Aves from start to finish at the municipal stadium last Saturday afternoon but had to make do with a single point as two strikes against the run of play from the visitors left manager Vítor Oliveira’s men chasing the 2-2 result for the entire 90 minutes.
Outstanding veteran keeper Quim was in the thick of the action from the word go as Shoya Nakajima and Fabrício laid siege to the Aves goal during the opening half-hour, Pedro Sá adding to the bombardment with an excellent shot which shaved the cross bar.
It came as a complete surprise then when former Portimonense player Amilton latched on to a poor Manafá pass to put Aves ahead after 38 minutes.
To the home side’s credit, Ruben Fernandes struck back almost immediately, the central defender guiding home his third league goal of the current season when finishing off a clever move involving Nakajima and Paulinho. And there was still enough time before the interval for Fabrício to almost put the Algarvians ahead, but the Brazilian’s powerful shot only scraped the foot of Quim’s left-hand post.
The keeper was called upon to pull off another excellent save immediately after the re-start, keeping out a Felipe Macedo header and it seemed only a matter of time before he was finally beaten again when that man Amilton slipped a pass behind the Portimonense defence to allow Arango to score with Aves’ only second attempt on target of the entire afternoon.
Once more in arrears, Portimonense continued the mostly one-sided assault on the Aves goal, Pires and Nakajima going close before a Fabrício volley, following a corner two minutes from time established the final score line and a share of the points.
Vítor Oliveira will consider the draw a poor return from a match which saw Portimonense enjoy 60% possession, 13 shots and 11 corners almost without reply, as well as harbouring disappointment at a further two goals conceded.
Jadson, who spent the game on the bench, is ready for an imminent return, and the tall defender can be expected to shore up the back four following the international break on Sunday, October 15 when Beja district side Moura provide the opposition for the two club’s Portuguese FA Cup third round tie.
There is still a chance that Portimonense will see a return to action before then, namely this Saturday against Vitória de Setúbal, as part of the League Cup group phase, but the go ahead for that match is still dependent on the ongoing appeal by Real against disqualification from the competition in favour of Belenenses, a decision which may or may not change the current group dynamics and subsequent scheduling.
By SKIP BANDELE
Photo: Portimonense’s Shoya (right) vies for the ball with Mama Balde from Aves on September 30 at the Portimão Municipal Stadium
Photo by: LUÍS FORRA/LUSA
