One-time relegation certainties Portimão are enjoying their best run of the season following a third successive victory last Sunday afternoon.
The match away at early promotion candidates Atlético was expected to be a big ask for manager Lázaro Oliveira’s newly assembled team but the first half produced little more than a stalemate during which the hosts struggled to find a way past a compact Algarvean midfield excellently marshalled by Semedo. An excellent save from Atlético’s US keeper Caleb ensured that the game remained goalless at the interval but even he was powerless to prevent Zambujo netting just after the re-start.
The remainder of the game became disjointed although Serginho had to prove his worth in the Portimão goal on at least one occasion before the final whistle to ensure that all three points travelled south.
Portimão have now closed the gap on a non-relegation place to only three points and have a realistic chance of staying up with another six games remaining. The first of these will be at home against mid-table Penafiel on Sunday while the final match day encounter away at third from bottom Madeira may yet prove to become decisive. Skip Bandele
