A sizeable home crowd at the Portimão municipal stadium witnessed the Algarveans take over at the top of the ultra-competitive Portuguese second division last Sunday afternoon.
Remarkably, manager Lázaro Oliveira’s team achieved their latest 2-1 victory over well-placed Sporting Covilhã without star performer Mou Kanazaki, who joined fellow injured starting eleven regulars Dyego Sousa, Quinaz and Anselmo on the sidelines prior to kick-off.
In the forward quartet’s enforced absence, it fell to 23-year-old summer signing Rui Correia to put Portimonense ahead from a Ricardo Pessoa free kick after 15 minutes, in what turned out to be a very competitive first half.
Following the re-start Covilhã’s search for an equaliser was only temporarily halted by the 53rd minute straight red for Rocha whose wild tackle on Juninho was deemed excessive by referee Tiago Martins.
The visitors finally drew level when Forbes beat Márcio Ramos in the Portimonense goal with quarter of an hour left on the clock, but the Algarveans’ response was almost immediate – Mica found Zambujo in space and the 27-year-old showed great composure to score his third of the season with aplomb.
There was still time for chances to go begging at either end – Covilhã hit the bar and Portimonense substitute Anderson somehow missed an open goal – as well as another home sub, Theo, receiving his marching orders straight from the bench, but the scoreline stood as the final whistle was blown.
Prior to Wednesday afternoon’s (after the Algarve Resident went to press) away encounter with seventh-placed Tondela, Portimonense thus found themselves at the head of affairs, one and three points clear of promotion rivals Moreirense and Penafiel, both of whom were held to 1-1 draws over the weekend.
Lázaro Oliveira’s exciting young side are back in action at home this Sunday afternoon at 3pm when mid-table União Madeira are the visitors.
Meanwhile, improving Farense came through a bruising away trip to Porto B with the prolific Rambe netting his eighth goal of the season for a share of the points ahead of last Wednesday’s reception of Sporting B.
By Skip Bandele sport@algarveresident.com
