Liga Portugal Betclic:
Portimonense 2-2 Rio Ave
Gil Vicente 2-0 Farense
Last Saturday afternoon, Portimonense let slip the last opportunity to determine their own immediate future by failing to beat Rio Ave despite all possible help having been rendered by third parties – closest relegation quagmire rivals Estrela Amadora and Boavista lost to Vizela and Porto respectively – while Farense didn’t appear to feel it necessary to turn up at Gil Vicente having secured top division survival the previous weekend.
In all fairness, Portimonense did dominate large chunks of their home match but were unfortunate to fall behind to two set pieces either side of the interval. In between, Carlinhos managed to equalise, but home fans had to wait until the 97th minute for Hélio Varela to make it 2-2 and grab at least one point.
In contrast, 24 hours later, Farense never really recovered after conceding two sucker punches in quick succession early on delivered by Kanya Fujimoto and Felix Correia, which steered Gil Vicente out of trouble and any potential involvement in the relegation dogfight.
Hence the situation on Saturday’s last match day – kick-off 3.30pm – of the season is as follows. Portimonense (29 points) must win in Faro (the Derby will be manager Paulo Sérgio’s 150th league game in charge) and hope that either Boavista (31 points) lose to Vizela, or Estrela Amadora (30 points) draw or lose their encounter with Gil Vicente.
The Algarveans are worse off with both rival clubs on a head-to-head comparison, so finishing on the same points is of no use. Should none of these scenarios materialise, Portimonense will have to contest a relegation/promotion play-off over two legs (May 25 home, June 2 away) with the third-placed club in the second division, which will be either AVS SAD (formerly Vilafranquese, now relocated to Vila das Aves) or Madeira-based Marítimo.
The other Madeira club, Nacional, already celebrated their return to the topflight alongside the Azores’ Santa Clara last weekend.
By SKIP BANDELE
