LIGA PORTUGAL BETCLIC: FARENSE 1-2 BENFICA
LIGA PORTUGAL 2 MEU SUPER: PORTIMONENSE 1-1 VIZELA
A well-organised Farense XI made visiting Benfica fight to the end for the three points in front of almost 13,000 spectators at the Stadium of the Algarve last Saturday evening, whilst Portimonense were once again unlucky not to come away with a win over Vizela earlier that day.
In Faro, the hosts’ shock early lead through Poveda did not last long as a defence-splitting Aktürkoglu run set up Carreras for the equaliser only five minutes later. Immediately after the interval, Ricardo Velho pulled off a brilliant save from Pavlidis but was unable to stop the Greek forward scoring Benfica’s 54th-minute winner. Farense still had a chance to take a share of the points but Gio failed to connect with Bermejo’s injury time cross in front of goal.
At the earlier 11am kick-off, Portimonense also went ahead early, Chico Banza lashing Paulo Vitor’s cross home in the fifth minute. Vizela could have drawn level on the half-hour mark, but Morschel’s penalty kick only smacked against the post. But the reprieve proved only temporary as the hosts were made to regret two subsequent missed opportunities to increase their advantage, with Tamble denied by superb goalkeeping from Ruly Garcia and Banza’s ‘second’ chalked off for off-side before Prosper Obah hit the equaliser for the visitors on the stroke of half time. The second half turned out less eventful, but manager Ricardo Pessoa’s men still spurned two excellent chances with away keeper Ruly thwarting Geovanne and Tamble guilty of missing an open goal at the death.
Both Algarve clubs, still trapped at the wrong end of their respective league tables, are in action again this Saturday with Portimonense’s trip to fellow strugglers Oliveirense preceding Farense’s visit at mid-table Casa Pia.
