Man-of-the-match Ewerton capped an impressive performance with an injury time strike which handed Portimonense a deserved 3-2 victory over top tier Belenenses in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup.
The 22-year-old Brazilian midfielder had earlier contributed significantly to his team’s first-half domination, his shot from the edge of the area on the stroke of half time doubling the Algarveans’ lead at the interval.
Ironically, it had been Zambujo, who had spent a good part of the 2012/13 season in Belém and still has many friends amongst the Lisbon side’s squad, who opened the scoring in the 13th minute.
However, as the final scoreline indicates, it was not all plain sailing for manager José Augusto’s men. Following the break, the visitors emerged from the tunnel determined to make good the earlier setback, and goals from Ruben Pinto and Gonçalo Silva soon left the match hanging in the balance until Ewerton’s final hurrah.
Portimonense now advance into the fifth round draw which still contains any number of Superliga clubs such as FC Porto, Sporting Lisboa and Sporting Braga.
The Cup success in front of their own fans should have provided Portimonense with a much-needed boost of morale ahead of this Saturday afternoon’s 4pm return to league action against neighbours Olhanense.
Algarve derbies are always fiercely contested affairs and both José Augusto and his counterpart Cristiano Bacci were spotted taking notes in the stands at each others corresponding fixtures last weekend emphasising the importance attached to the local rivalry.
By SKIP BANDELE
Photo: Man-of-the-match Ewerton
