IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

IMORTAL 0-0 QUARTEIRENSE

A frustrating afternoon for home fans. Quarteirense had the better of the game in terms of possession. A couple of Imortal players, Herlander Tome and Walter Alves, were not on their game. Mistakes were many. But Imortal had the two best chances to score.

The first came on 63 minutes. Ricardo Tome was comprehensively sent crashing down as he ran full speed into the penalty area. The customary protests saw three yellow cards for assorted Quarteirense players. What they were protesting about was a mystery. After some discussion, the penalty was delegated to Walter Alves. His stuttering run ended with a tame shot that was easily smothered by Orfao in the visitor's goal.

The second opportunity came four minutes before the end of normal time. Tome found himself one on one with the goalkeeper after a swift counter-attack. He tipped the ball wide of the advancing ´keeper from the edge of the penalty area only to see it go millimetres wide of the post.

The first half was especially poor, with nothing to write about for the first half hour or so. Quarteirense striker Miranda had a good opportunity, but shot straight at Inacio. A minute later Cintra did the same at the other end. Right at the end of the half, Dragnev took one for the team as they say, being booked for a foul that ended a dangerous Quarteirense move 25 metres from goal.

Two points lost for Imortal, whose next game is at Silves on Saturday. Silves beat Portimonense B last time out and are, like Quarteirense, usually difficult opponents.

Imortal team : Inacio; Prates, P. Rodrigues, Jose, Dragnev; Cintra, Alves, António, R. Tome; H. Tome, Duarte. Subs used : Coelho, Romeiro, Santos, Martins.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 12, Quarteirense 6 plus the penalty
Offside  : Imortal 3, Quarteirense 0
Shots on target : Imortal 4, Quarteirense 2
Shots off target: Imortal 2, Quarteirense 5
Corners : Imortal 4, Quarteirense 7
Yellow cards : Imortal 2, Quarteirense 3

Silves 0 - 1 Imortal

Couldn't write the report yesterday as the necessary official information about Saturday's game wasn't posted until late last night!

Overall a good result for Imortal, but Silves had most of the ball for long periods, fortunately to no effect. They did not manage a single effort on goal for the second half. A combination of very poor passing and good defensive cover kept them at bay.

Imortal had only one change from last week's starting line-up. Dragnev was suspended (five yellow cards) and his place taken by Rodrigo Salvador, who had a good game at left back.

Imortal made few scoring opportunities themselves. An early opportunity by Ruca was wasted with a tame shot straight at ´keeper Lopes. He and Walter Alves were combining well. That combination was responsible for the only goal ten minutes into the second half. Alves collected a loose ball just outside the Silves penalty area, jinked his way past a defender and put in a neat pass beyond another. Ruca was in space, with time to hook the ball past Lopes from about ten metres out.

Alves had an earlier shot well over the bar, Cintra should have done better when heading a cross from Alves. Silves only decent first half chance fell to Marco Andrade, but Inacio saved easily.

Imortal themselves managed to create only four scoring opportunities in a second half that was fairly scrappy all round. There was a slightly strange incident over a free kick which earned Silves player Souza a yellow. The referee was fairly insistent throughout that free kicks and throws should be taken from the correct place.That's unusual in itself. Souza placed the ball the customary ten metres ahead of where it should have been. Go back, said the ref. He did, but as soon as the referee turned around he moved it forward again. Exasperated referee produces yellow card. Souza then put the ball down where it had been before he was booked and took the free kick. But, as with all Silves' set pieces, totally wasted.

Towards the end, Silves resorted to route 1 football. Imortal's defenders sent it back whence it came. Seven minutes added time were shown, at which point Imortal's Coelho was comprehensively flattened. No bookings, but the customary debate added yet more time. There was a chance for Mauro Jose to increase the lead but his header went wide. The game ended with Silves winning three quick corners, but again their delivery was very poor and easily dealt with.

Some Silves fans were less than happy at the end, GNR paying attention just in case. News that Ferreiras had lost brought more smiles to the good number of visiting fans. Seven wins from the last eight matches and only one goal conceded. Can't be bad!

The final match of the first phase will be the very local derby between Imortal (1st) and Ferreiras (2nd) on Saturday 8th March ko 1500hrs at the Albufeira stadium.

Imortal team : Inacio; Prates, Pedro Rodrigues, Jose, Salvador; Cintra, Alves, António; H. Tome, ´Ruca´ Tome, Duarte. Subs used : Coelho, Tomas Rodrigues, Santos, Baldé, Martins.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 11, Silves 12
Offside: none
Shots on target :  Imortal 3, Silves 1
Shots off target : Imortal 2 Silves 2
Shots blocked : Imortal 0, Silves 1
Corners : Imortal 3, Silves 4.

Yellow cards : Imortal 1, Silves 3.