It took almost four months to wait, and even so, it was necessary to suffer. Portimonense returned to winning ways this afternoon, against Sporting da Covilhã (2-1), after having been behind, and shortened the distance to the waterline to six points.
If there were matches in which Portimonense lost playing well, this afternoon it was a different story. Alvinegra took a long time to enter the game and the away team took advantage of Portimonense's misfortune to reach the goal.
In the 22nd minute, Wakaso fouled Fofana inside the area and Vasco Santos pointed to the penalty spot. In the conversion, Gabi shot into the middle of the goal and opened the scoring.
Portimonense went to rest without being able to react to the disadvantage and entered the second half without being able to do so. The first time Lázaro Oliveira's team approached Covilhã's goal with relative danger was in the 60th minute when Ricardo Pessoa, in a free-kick, placed the ball over Lucas' head, who fired slightly to the side.
In the 69th minute it was Serginho who saved Portimonense. Fofana fired strong and the alvinegro goalkeeper had to fly to avoid the Serrana team's second.
When Lázaro Oliveira had already exhausted the substitutions, the goal of the draw for Portimonense came, in a great goal by Zambujo. The winger on the corner of the right area, filled his foot, and shot crossed, giving Igor Araújo no chance.
Three minutes later, Luís Carlos – a good performance – started with the ball on the left and was stopped by Zézinho inside the area. Vasco Santos saw and signaled the penalty that Ricardo Pessoa took to put Portimonense ahead.
Despite the final pressure from Sp. Covilhã, Portimonense held the result until the 96th minute, when the referee whistled for the last time.
With this victory, Portimonense reaches 17 points and reduces to five the distance to Covilhã, which is the second from the bottom. Belenenses, ranked 14th, is six points away. In the next round, the Algarve team moves to Arouca, which is ranked eighth.
Reactions
Pedro Simões (Assistant Trainer Portimonense):
It was a fair victory for a team that worked hard for the result. We didn't start the game well, which is perhaps normal at this stage of the championship for a team that is in last place. After Covilhã's goal, we showed our will and desire, perhaps not playing as well as the public deserves.
More victories are needed for maintenance but this is an important step. The working group believes and is in the spirit of turning the situation around.
Tulipa (Covilhã's Coach):
We had the ambition to exploit the anxiety of the Portimonense team. In the first half we had the advantage, but we didn't manage the game time well to leave in transitions.
Then I knew that Portimonense's team is competent, has individual quality and technical quality. The entry of Simi gave another game perspective to the Portimonense team, who won many second balls at the entrance to our area and we were exposed.
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