IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Yesterday : Imortal 6 - 1 Louletano B a good performance to round off the first phase against admittedly very poor opposition. Imortal go into the second phase with a ten point lead over Ferreiras, who moved into second place after Quarteirense could only manage a draw down at Odiáxere. More here on Monday night.

IMORTAL 6 - 1 LOULETANO B

In the end, an easy win for Imortal against feeble opposition, but there was a nasty shock when the visitors took the lead after 20 minutes with their only shot on target of the whole game.

It was a windy afternoon, with the ball difficult to control at times and passing often difficult. Imortal started well, showing the pattern of the game as a whole with Silveira delivering in crosses from the left, Luz from the right. A far more direct approach than usual and it worked. Herlander Tome had a goal disallowed for a marginal offside, Walter Alves had a good effort go just wide.

No goals though, then Louletano broke down the right hand side, Imortal's midfield was nowhere to be seen. Daniel Xavier set off at speed, right through the defence to hit a low hard shot from 20 metres out that gave ´keeper Inácio no chance. Inácio picked the ball from the net, one of his very few touches with his hands. I think he had more touches with his feet than many of the outfield players.

That was a wake up call if ever there was one. Imortal shook themselves off and scored twice in two minutes after three good chances were created to no avail, Santos, Alves and Coelho all having scoring efforts saved or go wide.

On the half hour, another good cross by Luz from the right wing somehow evaded everyone in the middle, but Silveira was there on the far post to tap in in the equaliser. Two minutes later, a free kick well delivered by Silveira found the head of new signing Igor Machado for the second. Machado has moved from Quarteirense to join Imortal and made his debut in the cup match on Wednesday.

Just before half time, a stunner by Walter Alves added the third. Out on the left wing, he cut inside, beat two defenders and unleashed a powerful curling shot into the far corner. Cue much joy! He works so hard but rarely scores, certainly not like that.

Half time saw José António replaced by Mario Duarte and that worked. He scored within two minutes of his arrival. A cross came in from the left, a big bounce took the ball over a defender who hadn't seen Duarte stealing in behind him. A first time shot on the run and it was four.

The game went off the boil for a while, except for a chance missed by Machado who just failed with header from a cross delivered by Santos. Things picked up again on 64 minutes. Dragnev sent in a low hard cross rom the left, Duarte had an easy tap in from close range with defenders nowhere.

Alves tried an extravagant overhead kick when a header would have been better. It went miles over, should have been six. He had another chance with ten minutes remaining, but this time he was denied by a good interception inside the penalty area. Alves was on for a very rare full match.

The sixth was a spectacular own goal. Prates sent in a cross from the right, a desperate attempt at blocking by Rosa succeeded only in lashing it unstoppably into his own net.

The referee was merciful, blowing up right on 90 minutes despite the numerous substitutions, one booking and various goal celebrations.

Imortal end the first phase ten points clear of nearest rivals Ferreiras. The second phase begins on Saturday 21st March with a home game against Olhanense,ko 3pm / 15000hrs.

Imortal team : Inacio; Rodrigues, Prates, Machado; Santos, Silveira, Luz, Coelho, António; Alves, Herlander Tome. Subs used : Dragnev, Sequeira, Duarte, Justo and Salvador.

Match Statistics - a one sided game!

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 6, Louletano B 6 (good referee, but did let one or two things go that most here would not)
Offside :Imortal 7, Louletano B 2
Shots on target : Imortal 8, Louletano B 1
Shots off target : Imortal 7, Louletano B 1
Shots blocked : Imortal 3, Louletano B 0
Corners : Imortal 7, Louletano B 0
Yellow cards : Imortal 0, Louletano B 1(again, a lenient referee!)

Thinking of discipline, last week's altercations at Silves resulted in the Silves player Coentrão getting a four match suspension, one of their coaching staff has a month suspended and the club fined €25 for bad behaviour by their spectators.

Change of fixture next week! Imortal will now be at home to Silves, ko 1600hrs / 4pm

IMORTAL 3 -1 SILVES Saturday 28th March 2026

A fairly routine win for Imortal, who dominated the game especially in the first half. Two of the goals were simplicity itself, the third a penalty, all scored by Mario Duarte (Marocas) taking his season total to 20 in 24 games. Diogo Luz had a storming game down the right side, never stopped running. Imortal played with an open style, with hard running down both flanks and a stream of crosses causing Silves' defenders no end of trouble. If only the final touch would have been a little better! Could have had five or six!

The first goal came after just seven minutes. A move down the right, Walter Alves had time and space to send in a perfect cross to the far post onto the head of Duarte, who didn't even need to jump to nod it into the top corner of the goal. The next chance came fairly swiftly, but Herlander Tome tripped at the vital moment. 

Silves rarely ventured out of their own half, but could have scored mid-way through the half when Rodrigues and Prates got in each other's way on the edge of the penalty area, but the shot from the loose ball went way over the crossbar. Duarte called upon Silves' Lopes to save well, then thirty seconds later at the other end Inácio had to be down quickly to save from Silva.

The recent game at Silves left no love lost. Things were expected to be lively. Walter Alves was mowed down on the half-way line on the half hour, yellow card for Caetano. Alves got his comeback a few minutes later, combining well with Luz down the right hand side. Luz sent in a low accurate cross which Duarte steered into the net from close range. There was time before the interval for Herlander Tome to test the 'keeper with a long range effort, which bounced just in front of him to be clawed away to safety.

The second half started with Alves jinking through three defenders, his shot spun off the third and was only just cleared off the line. An unfortunate incident for Dragnev saw him pushed off the pitch for his knee to collide with one of those concrete circles that are used on the athletics area. Very unlucky for him, coming back after a long absence, but he clearly was in no condition to continue. He was replaced by Silveira.

The third goal came on the hour. Luz set off on yet another run down the right, which ended in him being barged over inside the area. No doubt who was going to take the penalty. Duarte completed his hat-trick with a perfect strike.

After that, the game kind of drifted off. The Imortal defence, having had very little to do, didn't react very well to Silves' sudden desire to get on the scoresheet. But Silves weren't very good where it mattered. Ricardo Tome had a chance for a fourth, he didn't quite get to a super pass from Alves. Luz was just wide with another effort. Sub Aldair Quiteque also just missed connecting with another cross into the danger area. Three Silves players were booked for petty fouls or arguing about it.

Silves had moments during added time, forcing corners that had the Imortal defence in trouble. Silveira blocked one shot but the clearance was poor. The ball came back across to Có, unchallenged on the far post for a simple header.

The result keeps Imortal at the top of the table, ten points ahead of Ferreiras with eight games of the second phase remaining. The Algarve League does not play over the Easter holiday weekend. The next game will be on Saturday 11th April at home to Quarteirense, ko 16:00hrs / 4pm.

Imortal Team : Inácio; Prates, Rodrigues, Dragnev, Machado; Coelho, Walter Alves, José António, Luz; Herlander Tome, Duarte. Subs used : Quiteque, Abreu, Santos, Ricardo Tome, Silveira.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 10, Silves 9 plus the penalty
Offside : Imortal 0, Silves 1
Shots on target : Imortal 6, Silves 5
Shots off target : Imortal 2, Silves 3
Shots blocked : Imortal 1, Silves 2
Yellow cards :Imortal 1, Silves 5
Red cards : none