IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Beetlebeard wrote: Good first half today. Awful second and how that rubbish number 9of there’s managed to score I’ll never know. Not sure why the Imortal goal was chalked off in the second half. Probs offside but very tight if so. Nice scrap at the end though which shows that they care.

Was really obvious from the other end, the home winger got a touch on the ball, it skimmed his head and guy who collected the pass was clearly off. Shame as well worked, more like their first half play which was decent.

Decent game I thought. Clearly Louletano got a talking to at half time.

Is there anywhere you can find an attendance?

So it would!

Cash only, €7 for adults. There is the clubhouse bar right in front of you at the top of the steps at the entrance. Not much to do before the game, most turn up 20 - 30 minutes before. I aim to be there around 1430 as I am meeting someone.

LOULETANO 1 - 0 IMORTAL PORTGUAL FA CUP FIRST ROUND

A game of very few clear cut goalscoring chances ended in a one - nil win for the home team.  Imortal's first attempt on target was not until the 6th minute of time added at the end, A header from Marocas being tipped over the bar by ´keeper Turossi. For their part, Louletano also had only one shot on target, the one that went in, nineten minutes into the second half.

A fairly decent crowd for this level, I would say around 300, watched the game at Loulé Municipal Stadium, on a dry and sometimes bumpy pitch. Louletano's normal venue, the Algarve Stadium, was not available because Portugal's match with Luxembourg tonight.

Imortal did field a couple of 'reserve' players as did their opponents. There wasn't much to write about for the first 45 minutes. Neither team created much in the final third. Louletano's number 8, Paulo Matos the eventual goalscorer, displayed some nice footwork to beat three defenders close to goal, but poked the final touch wide. Imortal's Fábio Santos saw a 25 metre effort whistle just past the post. A close range heder from Imortl midfielder Cortez hit the goalpost with the 'keeper beaten and rebounded to safety. Towards the end of the half there was a sudden spate of free kicks conceded by Imortal, Louletano could not take advantage. A rare goood move by Imortal was spoiled by Bruno Pereira not looking across the line and finding himself miles offside when Tidjane Baldé passed. Louletano's right winger Mhleli Mabuza caused a few problems, hit one over the bar from long range but generally neither goalkeeper was troubled.

Louletano won three quick corners at the start of the second half, nothing came of them. The opening minutes of the second period were pretty poor to be honest. Then a goal almost out of nothing. Louletano pressed into the attack, a shot was blocked and the rebound fell to Matos, who fairly hammered it in, low and hard from around 23 metres. Unstoppable.

Imortl's response was not good enough. Passing was poor, players robbed too easily. Head coach Ricardo Moreira kicked the side of the dugout in frustration more than once.The last ten minutes were approaching when a long ball out of defence by Fadigas almost broke the line, but Turossi came out to claim. Seven minutes of the ninety left, Imortal replaced the tired legs of Kaio Xavier and Williams Fadini with Marco Andrade and Brayan Vera. Louletano were doing their best to disrupt Imortal's efforts to get an equaliser, all the old tricks. Six minutes of added time were announced. We even saw one of their players pulled up for taking a throw from the wrong place, it being reversed and handed to Imortal. I had almost forgotten that the law was the throw should be take where the ball went off. Here the law seems to be not less than 10 metres nearer the opponents goal.   Imortal weren't getting anywhere until a free kick floated in by Santos found the head of Marocas a few metres out, but it was saved. Nothing resulted from the corner. The six minutes eventually became eight, the final whistle went, Imortal haven't won yet this season.


Imortal line-up (I will do this from now on)

Lucas Teixeira (GK); Pedro Rodrigues (Capt.); Bruno Pereira: Leandro 'Ari' Cortez; Afonso Fadigas; Miguel Gonçalves; Fábio Santos; Mario (Marocas) Duarte; Kaio Xavier; Tidjane Baldé; Williams Fadini. Subs used - Diego Prates; Brayan Vera; Tomas Mendes; Dario Bernando; Marco Andrade.

Match stats

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 15, Louletano 8
Offside : Imortal 5, Louletano 1
Shots on target : Imortal 1, Louletano 1
Shots off target : Imortal 3, Louletano 5
Shots blocked : Imortal 0, Louletano 1
Corners : Imortal 3; Louletano 7
Yellow cards : Imortal 1, Louletano 1
Red cards : none

We have some local interest with that as well as Bognor FC are away to Burgess Hill Town tomorrow at 3.00pm. This is pretty much a local derby and an FA cup first qualifying round. Cricket, well thats another matter with my allegiance favoring the Southern Brave. (Not really a county observer) Sure looking forward to my day at the Estadio Municipal and hope to bring back some good memories when I return on Sept. 27th.