Liga Portugal Betclic:
Portimonense 3-5 Sporting Braga
Arouca 2-1 Farense
Much like the Easter weekend weather, both Algarve top division clubs’ attempts to end their respective, now considerable winless streaks once again got stuck in the mud.
On Saturday afternoon, Farense’s efforts in keeping the game alive, in no small part due to keeper Ricardo Velho’s season record-equalling 13 saves, belied the match statistics which saw Arouca enjoy 27 shots and 13 corners in comparison to the Algarveans’ paltry 13 and four, respectively.
Despite this statistical unbalance, the end result came down to fine margins with Arouca goalkeeper Arruabarrena initially doing well with a 16th-minute double save from Marco Matias and Zé Luis before the home side finally went ahead on the stroke of half time via a Tiago Esgaio header.
At the start of the second half, Zé Luis wasted a golden opportunity to level and Arruabarrena again denied Marco Matias in the 67th before Cristo Gonzalez made it 2-0 only a minute later to kill off the match.
There was still time for a VAR-delayed 88th-minute Bruno Duarte consolation strike, but Farense will have to wait until this Friday night for their next chance of winning a game when Boavista are the visitors at the São Luís stadium.
Portimonense closed the 27th match day on Monday night at home against heavyweights Braga and put up a first half fight before being overrun after the interval.
Bruma’s third minute opener for the visitors was cancelled out by a Pedrão penalty not long into the match, but a Roger strike on the half-hour mark ensured the Gunners were ahead at the break.
As so often this season, the Portimonense defence then reappeared to be sleepwalking, a Banza brace and another Bruma finish quickly making it 5-1. Late goals from Berto and Fukui can only be seen as window dressing under the circumstances, and manager Paulo Sérgio’s men really must win at bottom side Chaves on Sunday afternoon if they do not want to stare relegation in the face.
By SKIP BANDELE
