By SKIP BANDELE
The 2006/07 season kicked off in confusion as Benfica’s inaugural league game was cancelled at the eleventh hour. It is still not clear if supposed opponents, Gil Vincente or Belenense, will take up the remaining place in the top tier as the courts continue to deliberate over the Mateus transfer case.
Champions, Porto, did take to the pitch on Friday evening, but looked anything but impressive in clinging on to a 2-1 home win over Leiria. Rivals and early title favourites, Sporting, received Boavista, now managed by former Montenegro international Zeljko Petrovic, and came back from a goal down to finish comfortable 3-2 winners. Last season’s early pacesetters, Braga, edged P.Ferreira out 2-1 and Mario Jardel was on target on his return to Portuguese football as Beira-Mar drew 2-2 with Aves.
Prior to the weekend, Luiz Felipe Scolari announced five changes to the squad that will face Finland in Portugal’s first Euro 2008 qualifier on September 6. Sporting’s Carlos Martins looks set to receive a first cap, while João Moutinho, Ricardo Quaresma, Hugo Almeida and Ricardo Rocha had all previously failed to make the trip to Germany for the World Cup.
