LIGA NOS: PORTO 3-1 PORTIMONENSE
Last Sunday afternoon, Portimonense managed to give Porto a scare before a lack of concentration either side of half time spelt out another defeat on the road, leaving the Algarveans rooted to the bottom of the division.
The visitors from the south made much the better start to the match, Aylton Boa Morte and Willyan going close before Beto ran onto an Anderson cross to give manager Paulo Sérgio’s men an early lead. However, the setback provoked an immediate reaction from the reigning champions, a barrage of successive corners creating chances for Uribe, Luis Díaz and Sérgio Oliveira, the outstanding last-mentioned playmaker and captain seeing his effort only kept out by a top-class Samuel save.
Nonetheless under siege, Portimonense were seconds away from taking the one-goal advantage into the interval when Oliveira provided a perfect delivery for Mbemba to level the scores in the third minute of time added on.
Dener led out his troops for the second playing period only to concede another goal almost immediately as Taremi powered in yet another Oliveira pin-point cross.
Far from dispirited, the Portimonense captain came within centimetres of heading the equaliser on two occasions while Samuel kept the Algarveans in the game with a further brilliant stop from Oliveira, but there was nothing the keeper could do to prevent the ebullient 28-year-old Portugal international from claiming his just rewards when latching onto a Corona 89th-minute through ball to establish the final 3-1 score line.
Going into the two-week UEFA Europa League break, Portimonense now find themselves holding up the table on four points, with Farense and Gil Vicente (5), Boavista (6) and Belenenses and Marítimo on seven points their closest neighbours. Nacional da Madeira, currently sitting in fifth place, will be the next visitors to the Municipal Stadium on November 29.
Off the pitch, Porto added insult to injury by ‘stealing’ promising young 13-year-old goalkeeper Hélio Gonçalves while want-away former first team captain Jadson finally got his wish with a season-long loan move to Sá Pinto-managed Brazilian club Vasco da Gama.
By SKIP BANDELE
