By: CHRIS WRIGHT sport@algarveresident.com
Exciting news for football fans as Benfica will start their defence of the League Cup in the Algarve against Olhanense on December 19.
The Olhão team was exempt from the first two rounds of the competition after finishing eighth in last season’s Premier Liga. The third phase comprises of four mini-leagues of four teams with Olhanense having the advantage of two home games and one away.
Besides the pre-Christmas clash with the Lisbon giants, the other home tie will be against Moreirense on Wednesday January 9, whilst Olhanense will travel to Coimbra to do battle with Académica on either December 30 or January 2.
Group ‘A’ consists of FC Porto, Nacional, V.Setúbal and Estoril while SC Braga will play in Group ‘B’ along with V.Guimarães, Beira-Mar and Naval. In Group ‘C’, Sporting Lisbon is matched with Marítimo, Paços de Ferreira and Rio Ave. Benfica has won the prestigious trophy for the past four years and in last season’s final beat Gil Vicente 2-1.
Mixed fortunes in the north
Olhanense faced a difficult trip to high flying Paços de Ferreira last Sunday which was compounded by the fact that two key defenders, former Benfica players Luis Felipe and centre-back Mauricio, were missing through injury.
Jander dropped to the bench while Bracali returned in goal and Andre Michael and Nuno Piloto came in for Luis Felipe and Mauricio.
This was the first game that Andre Michael had started in since September 2011. In a tentative opening, it was the visitors who had the first positive attack ten minutes into the game.
Tiago Targino, making his first start of the season, should have done better, but Cassio pulled off a fine save.
Stirling work in midfield by André Leão (P.Ferreira) and Olhanense’s captain Rui Duarte produced opportunities for both sides to break the deadlock but neither had enough fire power upfront.
The second-half was virtually one-way traffic as the home team dominated throughout, although Abdi and Ivanildo were causing problems when they did manage to gain possession of the ball. With ten minutes to go Olhanense lost substitute Ivanildo, who had replaced Tiago Targino at half-time, when he collided with Joshua.
The player was treated on the pitch and then taken by ambulance to the local hospital.
In the closing stages, Paços de Ferreira put the Olhanense defence under extreme pressure, but the Algarveans held out for a valuable point against a team that has had a highly impressive start to the season, losing just once in eleven games in all competitions.
Olhanense manager Sérgio Conceição said: “It was a hard game but gratifying to have kept a clean sheet after conceding eight goals in the previous three league games.”
Olhanense have to travel to Paços de Ferreira again on November 18 for the fourth round of the Portugal Cup.
On Sunday Olhanense welcomes Beira-Mar to the José Arcanjo Stadium, Olhão (behind McDonalds on the EN125); kick-off 4pm. Tickets can be bought on the day.
