IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Imortal 4 - 0 Carvoeiro United Algarve Cup First Round

Even with leading scorer Duarte and club captain Pedro Rodrigues having the night off, Imortal were far too good for their Second Division opponents. A four goal lead by half-time ensured the win, but maybe Imortal did ease back after the break and for certain Carvoeiro did up their game, including a spell of four corners in 90 seconds, all of which came to nothing.

A remarkable feature of the game, for these parts anyway, is that a total of only eight fouls were whistled up and not a single card shown. The rather portly referee might not have been quite up to speed. It was a nice night for football, but the counter-attraction of Bayern v Benfica on TV kept the crowd down to about 50.

The first goal, after just three minutes, was somewhat bizarre. A very strong back-pass flew past the Carvoeiro 'keeper, hit the goalpost and obligingly rebounded to the feet of Tidjane Balde, who side-footed it home from 5 metres out. Imortal were already in complete control, with good moves down both flanks. Needed a finisher though. The second came from such a move, a deep cross from the right by Balde was met with a perfect header by Tomas Rodrigues that fairly shot past the helpless 'keeper. Alves and Almeida were running rings around the opposition and occasionally themselves. On 25 minutes a superb long range curling shot from Alves drew gasps from the fans. It hit the corner of post and crossbar, bounced down and again it was Balde on hand to stab the loose ball into the net. It should have been four shortly after, Balde's cross found Alves unmarked on the far post, but he spooned his shot high over the bar into the trees.

Carvoeiro were chasing shadows, but when they did catch one on 35 minutes an ill advised tackle resulted in a penalty, nicely converted by Rangel.

Four-nil at half time. Carvoeiro made three changes at half time, while Coelho replaced Dragnev for Imortal. Alves and Rangel managed to get in each others' way after Alves had beaten several defenders to set up another chance. Goal kick. Carvoeiro then had their three minutes in Imortal's half, winning those four corners before normal service was resumed. But Imortal were content by now to indulge in some passing practice. Chances didn't come. Almeida got a bang on the head that laid him out for a couple of minutes and had to go off, being replaced by Fenimam for his first appearance. Mass defence by Carvoeiro kept Imortal at bay. They did actually have a long range shot towards the end. Although I counted it as being on target, it was no bother to Inacio in goal, who had been a spectator for most of the evening.

Ninety minutes was up, the referee decided that there would no time added despite five substitutions and the stoppage for Almeida's injury.

Imortal team : Inacio; Prates, Jose, Dragnev, Tomas Rodrigues; Alves, Almeida, Santos, Balde; Rangel, Salvador. Subs used : Tome, Coelho, Fenimam, Palinhas

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 4, Carvoeiro United 4 including the penalty.
Offside : Imortal 9, Carvoeiro United 0
Shots on target : Imortal 8 (all in the first half), Carvoeiro United 2
Shots off target : Imortal 6, Carvoeiro United 1
Shots blocked : Imortal 4, Carvoeiro United 1
Corners : Imortal 9, Carvoeiro United 5

Imortal 3 - 0 Culatrense

An easy win for Imortal, too easy perhaps. They were two-nil up at half time, which could have been three or four had it not been for some excellent goalkeeping by Tiago Froita. Most of the second half was exceedingly dull, with Imortal seemingly content to use the time for passing practice, while Culatrense for the most part defended en masse. It wasn't until ten minutes before the end of the regulation 90 that Tomas Rodrigues prodded the third goal from close range.

Imortal dominated the early exchanges in a sign of what was to come. Duarte's great header was ruled out for offside after 11 minutes. But there wasn't long to wait for the opener. Two minutes later some neat play by Santos, cutting into the penalty area ended with a well placed pass to the feet of Alves, who finished accurately. Friota was called into action, making a superb double save from close range efforts. More pressure eventually told, with Duarte, unmarked at the far post heading home from a corner. There was some reaction from the visitors, but Imortal's defence dealt capably, blocking a couple of efforts and not needing Inacio in goal to take action.

Cintra had a well directed free kick tipped over for a corner, but nothing came of it. Half time and the crowd of about 200 wondered how many more would be added in the second period.

But it was not to be. Apart from an early move that ended with Alves being denied by a very timely tackle, there was literally nothing to write about for a very long time. The most activity was from Imortal's head coach Leandro Palma, whose arm waving indicated a level of frustration that was echoed by the mutterings among the crowd. Surely we can do better against this lot, as Cintra made yet another pass backwards from the half way line.

The game finally woke up on the hour. An attack set up Duarte close in, but he got his feet in the wrong order and lost the ball. Balde made a good run down the right, his cross found Duarte but a good tackle put paid to that chance. Then, finally, came the third. A corner from the left, 'keeper went down to gather and fumbled, Tomas Rodrigues smacked in the loose ball. Could have been four moments later, but the ´keeper foiled Tome's effort and right at the end it was Tome whose run into the box was met by another solid challenge. The visitors' sole shot on target in the second half was headed away for a corner, which the taker promptly kicked behind the goal.

A win's a win and three points kept Imortal at the top of the league, but surely they will need to play better than that next Saturday when visiting Portimonense B, who also are also 100% and are second only by virtue of a lesser goal difference. Good thing is that Portimonense's first team also have a game, so we ought not to see first team regulars up against us. Unfortunately there is no way I can get to that game, so Rua FM will be monitored.

Imortal team : Inacio, Pedro Rodrigues, Dragnev, Sousa, Prates, Cintra; Alves, Santos, Rangel; Duarte, Tome. Subs used : Balde, Coelho, Tomas Rodrigues, Almeida

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 10, Culatrense 14
Offside : Imortal 1, Culatrense 0
Shots on target : Imortal 9, Culatrense 2
Shots off target : Imortal 1, Culatrense 2
Shots blocked : Imortal 1, Culatrense 2
Corners : Imortal 11, Culatrense 3
Yellow cards : Imortal 0, Culatrense 3