Portimonense’s exit from the 2012/13 League Cup competition following the initial group phase can only be seen as beneficial.
The concluding games last Wednesday and Sunday away against future Liga de Honra opponents Feirense and Penafiel, resulting in a 2-1 defeat and a 1-1 draw, saw manager Lázaro Oliveira’s very recently assembled team acquit themselves well, with both Ruben Gonçalves and Ruben Fernandes finding the back of the net.
All the indications are that once latest arrivals Rodrigo Barros and Luis Carlos have been fully integrated, Oliveira can repeat last season’s notable feat of moulding a competitive team out of a mix of experienced and young players at virtually zero cost.
