LIGA PORTUGAL BETCLIC: FARENSE 0-5 SPORTING
LIGA PORTUGAL 2: MAFRA 2-2 PORTIMONENSE
Farense forfeited home advantage in favour of financial gain by moving last Friday night’s clash with Sporting to the Stadium of the Algarve and were duly thrashed in front of 18,000 mostly visiting partisan spectators by the reigning Champions.
Despite keeper Ricardo Velho’s best efforts, last season’s top scorer Viktor Gyökeres racked up a hat-trick within the opening hour before a Lucas Áfrico own goal followed by a superb Marcus Edwards solo effort compounded the misery.
Farense, still pointless, have added 21-year-old Sporting midfielder Miguel Menino and 26-year-old ex-Oliveirense winger Jaiminho to their squad and both players should be available for this Sunday’s trip to Nacional da Madeira.
Meanwhile, Portimonense, who also face opposition from Madeira in the shape of unbeaten Marítimo on Sunday (early 11am kick-off), managed to grab their second point of the season at Mafra.
A wholly uneventful first half was followed by two goals in quick succession after the break, Lucas Ventura opening the scoring for the visitors before Maiga immediately equalised.
The hosts then went ahead through Kouakou, but an 87th-minute Paulo Vítor penalty made sure of a share of the points.
Off the pitch, the player merry-go-round is continuing with Pedrão (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Midana (UAE) and Seck (Azerbaijan) on the way out and another five players coming in, the pick of which is Japanese 24-year-old ex-Celtic Glasgow defender Yuki Kobayashi on a four-year deal.
By SKIP BANDELE
