IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Get your boots dusted off, Tom. 

IMORTAL 3 -0 FC Os 11 ESPERANÇAS

An easy win for Imortal against very poor opponents. The three goals were well worked. Imortal could have scored five or six had the finishing been a little better. FC 11 Esperanças for their part created almost nothing in the way of scoring opportunities. Two weak efforts on target requiring no effort on the part of Inácio to deal with and some routine catches of very hopeful crosses. Imortal were so much in control that they often had five men up front.

Imortal went into the game with both leading scorers suspended. Mario Duarte and Ricardo Tome watched from the stand while Herlander Tome lead the line, supported by Leandro Pimenta and Walter Alves.

The weather wasn't too bad in comparison to the last few days, but several of the large advertising panels lay flat on the ground and the pitch was quite heavy in places after the rain.

Pimenta opened the scoring just two minutes into the game. Good work down the right by Santos and António ended with a low cross that Pimenta struck past former Imortal ´keeper Nelio Pereira from close range. For Santos it was his first League start of the season. He put in a lot of work, as he has done when coming on as substitute.

Imortal had a very good chance to make it two very shortly afterwards. Luis Silveira and Walter Alves combined well, the cross was low and hard but first  António then Tome failed to connect. Pereira made the most of his involvement by going down claiming injury. Silveira then blasted a chance way high.

There wasn't long to wit for the second goal. Alves jinked his way past defenders out on the left wing and sent in a perfect cross to the head of Herlander Tome, five metres from goal. He rose between two stationary defenders to head unstoppably past Pereira, who didn't move.

Alves shot just wide a minute later.

A curiosity. It wasn't until the 31st minute that the first free kick was awarded against the visitors. In fact there were only in total seven free kicks in the first half and six in the second. Some sort of record I think.

Diego Prates headed home on 36 minutes but he was clearly offside. Imortal went in at half time pleased with their efforts. Both teams were very slow to come out for the second half. Ref and linesmen were out a good three minutes before the two teams. The second half didn't start until 16.09!

That half started well, or nearly. Alves crossed to Tome but he was judged offside. Maybe just. The same two combined for Imortal's third goal seven minutes into the second period. A huge clearance out of defence found Tome inside his own half with no-one between him and the goal.  A defender raced after him. Alves sprinted up in support. Tome was about to be caught, but he sensibly squared the ball to Alves who had a simple tap-in. It was getting rather gloomy by now, but the lights didn't some on.

A long range effort by Pimenta almost caught Pereira off guard, but it went just wide. He was denied a little later, showing good feet in the penalty area and a shot which Pereira finger tipped onto the post. A double save by Pereira stopped efforts by Pedro Rodrigues and Pimenta again. Alves curled a decent effort wide of Pereira and the far post.

Everyone on the home side was relaxed by now. With a few minutes remaining, the three goal scorers were replaced by some of the younger players. No doubt so the scorers could receive their personal applause.

Overall a decent performance and with Quarteirense drawing at Olhanense Imortal are four points clear at the top.

Imortal team : Inácio; Prates, Pedro Rodrigues, Salvador, Santos; Nascimento, António, Silveira; Alves, Herlander Tome, Pimenta.

Subs used : Ramos, Freitas, Sequeira, Justo, Guerreiro.

Match Statistics

Free kicks conceded. Imortal 8, FC 11 Esperanças 5
Offside : Imortal 6, FC 11 Esperanças 0
Shots on target : Imortal 6, FC 11 Esperanças 2
Shots off target : Imortal 10, FC 11 Esperanças 1
Shots blocked : none recorded as such.
Corners : Imortal 2, FC 11 Esperanças 1
Yellow cards : Imortal 2, FC 11 Esperanças 1