By CHRIS WRIGHT sport@algarveresident.com
Fans were shocked to learn that the team must play all their home games this season at the Algarve Stadium.
The playing surface at the José Arcanjo Stadium, Olhão, was deemed unfit for the two opening games against P.Ferreira and Sporting Lisbon.
Work was being undertaken to lay new turf on large areas of the pitch when the bombshell announcement was made.
President Isidoro Sousa, who had previously promised disgruntled supporters that the game against Estoril would be in Olhão, broke the news that was to result in fans padlocking the José Arcanjo car park to stop officials leaving. It would appear that the new SAD (Limited Sports Club), when submitting registration documents to the league, stated that the Algarve Stadium would be the home ground.
Whilst the President did not sign the documents, he must ultimately take responsibility. The Professional Football League stated that they would not allow Olhanense to return to their ‘home’ ground this season.
Many fans decided to boycott the game with Estoril and the meagre crowd of 813 was the lowest in the club’s Primeira Liga history. Only two weeks earlier a record crowd of 10,148 turned out for the game against Sporting Lisbon. There is no doubt that this story has many more twists and turns.
On the pitch it was Estoril who took all three points. An early goal after just three minutes from João Pedro Galvão was not the start that manager Xavier had wanted. The previous week the visitors had only lost 2-1 in their UEFA Europa League to top Spanish side Sevilla, and their fast counter-attacking football was causing Olhanense all sorts of problems.
But midway through the first-half the scores were level when new boy Dionisi latched on to a rebound and fired low into the net.
The game looked to be heading for stalemate when Reuben Fernandes restored Estoril’s lead with seven minutes remaining. Completely unmarked, he headed home from a corner, much to the frustration of keeper Ricardo who gave his defenders a verbal roasting.
Olhanense substitute centre-forward Mehmeti had a great chance to level matters but shot wide with only the keeper to beat. In the closing moments, Ricardo in the home goal saved twice to deny Estoril.
Olhanense drop into the bottom four, just one point off the basement, whilst Estoril move above Benfica, who could only draw at home to lowly Belenenses.
Tomorrow the Algarve side travel to Lisbon to play Belenenses, who feature Matt Jones, the English born goalkeeper who played for Port Vale and West Bromwich Albion youth teams.
|| Fans
When Phil Budas, a season ticket holder at Dundee United (Scotland), joined the Olhanense expat supporters for the game against Estoril, he represented the 50th English & Scottish club to watch the Primeira Liga since their promotion in 2009. Two fans from Charlton Athletic also enjoyed the pre-match hospitality of the group.
