Liga Portugal Betclic:
Boavista 1-4 Portimonense
Farense 1-3 Porto
Portimonense left their most recent dismal home performance well behind with a resounding away success at Boavista while Farense’s spirited fighting qualities were not enough to overcome Porto on this occasion.
Last Sunday afternoon, Boavista’s intimidating Estádio do Bessa crumbled under an early Algarvian onslaught with recent Henan FC signing Hildeberto setting up ex-U23 star Hélio Varela and then former Fulham reserve Jasper for two goals in quick succession before going down under a foul which allowed Carlinhos to make it 3-0 from the resulting free kick.
Kosuke Nakamura was called into action immediately following the break with a stupendous save from Malheiro. Jasper then had the ball in the back of the net again only to be adjudged off-side before a Makouta header finally got Boavista on the score sheet.
But it was left to Portimonense and Luan to complete the biggest league win of the season with a last-minute piledriver from the edge of the box.
Manager Paulo Sérgio’s men next face Arouca at home on Saturday afternoon by which time the latest January transfer window acquisitions, namely Thiago Dombroski, a 21-year-old Brazilian central defender from Coritiba, Steve Mvoue, also 21 and a Cameroon forward via Belgium’s Seraing, and 25-year-old Faro-born Estoril winger Rodrigo Martins should all be available for selection.
Later last Sunday, Farense gave Porto plenty to think about and should have been ahead by the time the visitors gained the upper hand.
First Elves Balde was unlucky to see his powerful shot rebound off the crossbar and then the usually reliable Mattheus Oliveira blasted his 34th-minute penalty over. Relieved at the let-off, Evanilson and Varela subsequently established a 2-0 half-time lead, which Bruno Duarte managed to reduce on the hour mark, this time successfully from the penalty spot.
However, any hopes of a revival were soon quashed when Evanilson grabbed his second to make it 3-1 on the night. Farense next face bottom club Chaves away on Sunday afternoon.
By SKIP BANDELE
