By Skip Bandele sport@algarveresident.com
In spite of the promising recent League Cup success, Sunday’s start to this season’s Liga Orangina showed that the almost completely re-formed Portimão team has some way to go before being the finished product.
At Moreirense, the hosts were always dominant and took the lead in the 13th minute when a curved shot from Fabio Espinho beat ex-Marseille keeper Jules Goda at the near post.
The second half introduction of Simmy in support of hitherto lone striker Ben Traore gave the Algarveans more options going forward and Rafa came closest to scoring an equaliser.
One minute before the final whistle Moreirense were awarded a penalty which was confidently converted by late substitute N’Jock ending the game.
“A team with 18 new players which has had only one month to work together fought like champions,” a less than disheartened manager Joao Bastos said afterwards.
The next opportunity to observe the fruit of his labours will be tomorrow (Saturday) when Portimonense take on Naval at their recently refurbished city-centre stadium.
The match kicks off at 5pm and will also be shown live on cable channel Sport TV1.
