It was necessary to suffer, but Portimonense managed to reach the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, after beating Famalicão, in a penalty shoot-out (1-1 at regular time), this Tuesday, 21 December. Goalkeeper Payam was the hero in saving two penalties.
The great epoch of the Algarve has now had another chapter. It's not that it's unprecedented – Portimonense has even been, twice, in the semi-finals of the Cup -, but today's passage to the quarter-finals is not unremarkable.
The first big chance of the meeting was, however, for Famalicão. At minute 5, the home team could have scored, after a well-studied move, but Banza could not make the amendment close to the goal.
Now at 27′, it was Fabrício who had everything to do the first, but his header went slightly to the side.
The game was heading towards the end of the first half when the Algarve had real reasons to smile. Aylton received a pass, dodged Batubinsika and shot into the back of the net (45+2′).
In football, stories like the one involving Aylton happen sometimes. It's because? Because the player from the Algarve has gone from hero to villain – literally.
In the second half, at 52′, Aylton was sent off for accumulation of yellow cards and left Portimonense in a bad light.
With one less, the Algarve had to abdicate the attack and turned to defense. After a long struggle, in the 83rd minute, there was even a tie, headed by Bruno Rodrigues.
The game went into extra time, with both teams showing obvious fatigue. The best chances, in the first half, went to Portimonense with a shot by Carlinhos (91′) and a dangerous cross by Ewerton, who found no one to make the amendment (98′).
After a second half without great opportunities, the game even had to be decided on penalties. There, the Iranian goalkeeper of Portimonense shone. Payam saved the penalties from Banza and Pickel, while the Algarvians scored all the penalties (2-3).
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