LIGA PORTUGAL BETCLIC
Farense 1-3 Portimonense
Boavista 2-2 Vizela
Estrela Amadora 1-0 Gil Vicente
Last Saturday afternoon, valiant Portimonense suffered last-minute heartbreak as a late injury-time Boavista equaliser at the other end of the country condemned the Algarveans to an unwanted relegation play-off showdown with AVS SAD – formerly Vilafranquense – to be played over the next two weekends, this Saturday at 7.45pm in Portimão and the following Sunday at the same time in Vila das Aves. The other team involved in the three-way struggle for survival, Estrela Amadora, saved themselves with a narrow win over Gil Vicente.
In the Algarve’s capital, Portimonense had to achieve an unprecedented top tier away win over their neighbours to stand any chance of coming out on top of the dogfight and more than came up trumps as far as that part of the equation was concerned.
Berto capped a dominant opening spell by the visitors with an 11th-minute strike and Carlinhos made it 2-0 just after the half-hour mark. Substitute Cristian Ponde cut the deficit not long after the break, but Lucas Ventura made sure of all three at that moment vital points with a third seven minutes into injury time.
Unfortunately, wild celebrations amongst the travelling fans were cut short as news of a 101st-minute hand ball penalty award in Boavista’s favour arrived – which was successfully converted.
When all three results were finally in, Estrela Amadora’s win left them on 33 points, one more than Boavista and Portimonense, both on 32. However, although equal on a head-to-head comparison, Portimonense were worse off on goal difference and thus forced into the forthcoming play-off.
At least the latest performance should have boosted manager Paulo Sérgio’s men’s confidence as opposed to AVS SAD whose form has dipped alarmingly of late with only one win from their last eight matches. Força, Portimonense!
By SKIP BANDELE
