Liga Sagres wrap: Portimonense struggle worsens, Braga win

Portimonense’s battle to avoid relegation from the Liga Sagres took a hammer blow on Saturday, while Braga edged Beira-Mar to move third.

A 59th-minute strike from Laionel handed Academica a 1-0 win over Portimonense at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra, condemning the visitors to their 14th loss of the season.

After 17 winless league games that claimed the job of manager Litos, Portimonense had put together a promising run of nine points from their last five games.

But the Algarve club’s first league loss since February 13 leaves them in 15th and still five points from safety. With just five games remaining in the season, they face an uphill battle to avoid being relegated a year after clinching promotion to the top flight from the Liga de Honra.

Further exacerbating their mire is that 14th-placed Vitoria Setubal have a game in hand.

The equation is rather more comfortable for Academica, who moved to 12th ahead of the rest of the weekend’s programme.

At the other end of the table, last campaign’s runners-up Braga crept above Sporting Lisbon into third after a 2-1 win over Beira-Mar.

Brazilian Leandro Tatu gave the home side a 40th-minute lead, but an own-goal from 21-year-old Beira-Mar midfielder Jaime squared the ledger on 68 minutes.

Cameroonian striker Albert Meyong then gave Braga an advantage they would not relinquish, finding the back of the net seconds after his 71st-minute substitution into the game in place of former Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana.

Braga have no chance of moving higher than second, but will be keen to hold onto third ahead of Sporting.

Beira-Mar are all but certain retain their top-flight status after winning promotion from the Liga de Honra last campaign. They sit in 10th and nine points from battling Portimonense.

Sun 3 April, 2011

Liga Sagres wrap: Portimonense struggle worsens, Braga win

Portimonense’s battle to avoid relegation from the Liga Sagres took a hammer blow on Saturday, while Braga edged Beira-Mar to move third.

A 59th-minute strike from Laionel handed Academica a 1-0 win over Portimonense at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra, condemning the visitors to their 14th loss of the season.

After 17 winless league games that claimed the job of manager Litos, Portimonense had put together a promising run of nine points from their last five games.

But the Algarve club’s first league loss since February 13 leaves them in 15th and still five points from safety. With just five games remaining in the season, they face an uphill battle to avoid being relegated a year after clinching promotion to the top flight from the Liga de Honra.

Further exacerbating their mire is that 14th-placed Vitoria Setubal have a game in hand.

The equation is rather more comfortable for Academica, who moved to 12th ahead of the rest of the weekend’s programme.

At the other end of the table, last campaign’s runners-up Braga crept above Sporting Lisbon into third after a 2-1 win over Beira-Mar.

Brazilian Leandro Tatu gave the home side a 40th-minute lead, but an own-goal from 21-year-old Beira-Mar midfielder Jaime squared the ledger on 68 minutes.

Cameroonian striker Albert Meyong then gave Braga an advantage they would not relinquish, finding the back of the net seconds after his 71st-minute substitution into the game in place of former Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana.

Braga have no chance of moving higher than second, but will be keen to hold onto third ahead of Sporting.

Beira-Mar are all but certain retain their top-flight status after winning promotion from the Liga de Honra last campaign. They sit in 10th and nine points from battling Portimonense.

Sun 3 April, 2011

Liga Sagres: Portimonense 2 Vitoria Guimaraes 1

Portimonense’s great escape is underway, after the relegation-haunted Liga Sagres club stole an upset win over Vitoria Guimaraes on Friday.

The 2-1 result did not change Portimonense’s position in 15th, but it moved them to within five points of safety ahead of the rest of the weekend’s league matches.

Vitoria Guimaraes appear on track to emulate last season’s sixth-placed finish, and took the lead after midfielder Tiago Targino scored his second goal of the campaign.

But plucky Portimonense drew level when towering defender Andre Pinto nodded home a free kick to delight the home side’s fans just two minutes later.

The dismissal of defender Mahamadou N’Diaye on 80 minutes did little to help Guimaraes’ efforts to reclaim the lead, and they were to let their share of the points slip altogether just two minutes later.

After a free kick clattered off Guimaraes goalkeeper Nilson’s cross bar, Portimonense substitute striker Jorge Pires was the first to react, prodding the ball home from close range to put his side in front.

Not even the 90th-minute dismissal of on-loan Porto striker Daniel Candeias could stop the home side taking full points, with Guimaraes players surrounding referee Pedro Proenca at the final whistle to show their disapproval of his performance.

Guimaraes remain in fifth place but appear likely to slip down the table, with results from the rest of the weekend still to come.

Sat 19 March, 2011

Liga Sagres: Portimonense 2 Vitoria Guimaraes 1

Portimonense’s great escape is underway, after the relegation-haunted Liga Sagres club stole an upset win over Vitoria Guimaraes on Friday.

The 2-1 result did not change Portimonense’s position in 15th, but it moved them to within five points of safety ahead of the rest of the weekend’s league matches.

Vitoria Guimaraes appear on track to emulate last season’s sixth-placed finish, and took the lead after midfielder Tiago Targino scored his second goal of the campaign.

But plucky Portimonense drew level when towering defender Andre Pinto nodded home a free kick to delight the home side’s fans just two minutes later.

The dismissal of defender Mahamadou N’Diaye on 80 minutes did little to help Guimaraes’ efforts to reclaim the lead, and they were to let their share of the points slip altogether just two minutes later.

After a free kick clattered off Guimaraes goalkeeper Nilson’s cross bar, Portimonense substitute striker Jorge Pires was the first to react, prodding the ball home from close range to put his side in front.

Not even the 90th-minute dismissal of on-loan Porto striker Daniel Candeias could stop the home side taking full points, with Guimaraes players surrounding referee Pedro Proenca at the final whistle to show their disapproval of his performance.

Guimaraes remain in fifth place but appear likely to slip down the table, with results from the rest of the weekend still to come.

Sat 19 March, 2011

Liga Sagres: Portimonense 3 Vitoria Setubal 4

Portimonense’s winless run extended to 11 games after they were beaten 4-3 at home by Vitoria Setubal in Friday’s Liga Sagres action.

In a sensational match, an inspired half hour which saw Vitoria score three second-half goals set up the victory that saw them move up to 12th.

Without an away win in the league since August, Vitoria would have been delighted with their start as Claudio Pitbull fired them in front after just 15 minutes.

But Portimonense did not lie down and drew level on 29 minutes when Lito opened his account, just three minutes before Pires gave the hosts a surprise lead.

As the challenges continued to fly in, several players picked up bookings, but Portimonense managed to go into half-time still in front.

An own goal from the hosts’ goalkeeper Hugo Ventura brought Vitoria back into the game and the sending off Joao Paulo just eight minutes into the second half made life more difficult for Portimonense.

Paulo also gave away a penalty with his second booking, which saw Pitbull score his second and put Vitoria in front.

Henrique netted a fourth for the visitors on 77 minutes and although a 90th minute penalty to Portimonense defender Ricardo Pessoa added some credibility to the scoreboard, Vitoria deserved their win in a spiteful clash which also saw seven bookings dished out.

Sat 8 January, 2011

Liga Sagres: Portimonense 3 Vitoria Setubal 4

Portimonense’s winless run extended to 11 games after they were beaten 4-3 at home by Vitoria Setubal in Friday’s Liga Sagres action.

In a sensational match, an inspired half hour which saw Vitoria score three second-half goals set up the victory that saw them move up to 12th.

Without an away win in the league since August, Vitoria would have been delighted with their start as Claudio Pitbull fired them in front after just 15 minutes.

But Portimonense did not lie down and drew level on 29 minutes when Lito opened his account, just three minutes before Pires gave the hosts a surprise lead.

As the challenges continued to fly in, several players picked up bookings, but Portimonense managed to go into half-time still in front.

An own goal from the hosts’ goalkeeper Hugo Ventura brought Vitoria back into the game and the sending off Joao Paulo just eight minutes into the second half made life more difficult for Portimonense.

Paulo also gave away a penalty with his second booking, which saw Pitbull score his second and put Vitoria in front.

Henrique netted a fourth for the visitors on 77 minutes and although a 90th minute penalty to Portimonense defender Ricardo Pessoa added some credibility to the scoreboard, Vitoria deserved their win in a spiteful clash which also saw seven bookings dished out.

Sat 8 January, 2011