Portimonense lost this Saturday against Belenenses by two to one, in a well played game at Municipal de Portimão. The Algarve team thus ended a series of games without losing at home, which had lasted since the first round of the current championship, by not resisting against the outstanding leader of the II League.
The difference in points in the league table was already big before the match and settled in 31 points more for the Lisbon team at the end of the game. And this in relation to a team that is currently in ninth position (condition), with the same points as Porto B, which is in eighth.
Playing at home, Portimonense demonstrated from the beginning that they did not intend to be easy prey for Belenenses. The game was, moreover, quite balanced in terms of attacks, despite Belenenses having taken control of the game early on. But the visiting team turned out to be more objective and effective in front of goal.
The first big opportunity was for Portimonense, at 9 minutes, with Vítor Gonçalves shooting hard from outside the area, forcing goalkeeper Matt Jones to make an incomplete defense, followed by Anselmo's reload, who again bumped into the goalkeeper.
From here until the first goal, there were opportunities for both sides, but Belenenses were clearer and their football was more thoughtful.
Portimonense almost always abdicated the organized attack and looked for the counterattack whenever they could, often through Zambujo's quick climbs on the right.
On minute 39, the referee signaled a penalty against the home team, considering that Nelsinho had knocked Fredy down inside the area. The same Fredy did not forgive and scored the first goal of the game.
Lázaro Oliveira reacted to the goal with the entry of the Simy's scorer at half-time. And the Nigerian didn't need more than fifteen seconds on the field to show what he was coming from. In the first play of the second half, he forced the Belenenses goalkeeper to make a tight defense. Shortly afterwards it was Zambujo who tried from outside the area.
Portimonense came with a good attitude from the dressing room, but saw their spirits dampened with Belenenses' second goal, in the 52nd minute. Following a free-kick, Tiago Caeiro put the score in two to zero.
The home team accused the goal, but still managed the goal of honor, near the end of the game, by Simy. A goal that was not enough to avoid defeat, but was justified by the opportunities that the Algarve managed to create throughout the game.
With this defeat, which follows a draw with Benfica B last week at the Estádio da Tapadinha in Lisbon, it is starting to seem increasingly difficult to get back to the Zon Sagres League, at a time when the maintenance in the II League is virtually guaranteed. Second place (the first will already be impossible to reach) is nine points away and Portimonense has a game more.
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