IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Saturday : Imortal 0 Silves 2 no report as I wasn't there. It's definitely going to be a long season! Next game is away to Quarteira SC next Saturday. Next home game is Wednesday 1st November (All Saints holiday) visitors will be table-toppers Ferreiras in the local derby, ko 3pm / 1500hrs. Ferreiras have won all six of their league games so far.

Quarteira SC 0 - 1 Imortal Albufeira

A good win for Imortal, who survived  two goalmouth scrambles and having to play the last 20 minutes with ten men after a harsh sending off.

Five minutes of the normal 90 remained when Imortal won a corner. Taking from the left wing by Cassiano, it was met ten yards out by centre back Calado, whose powerful header gave the 'keeper no chance. It could have been two a few minutes later. Brilliant ball juggling by Oliveira took him past two defenders, but the third touch was just a bit too rough and a third nipped in just before he could shoot.

It was a hot and windy afternoon at Quarteira, the pitch fairly dry and bumpy in places. The 80 or so fans (and the club staff) were irked that the local police commander was at the game. He prohibited the sale of beer to the possibly unruly mobs that he and his three armed colleagues may have been unable to control.

A welcome sight for the good number of Imortal followers was the appearance of midfield playmaker Chico. He was his usual busy and creative self, although being told 'calma, calma' from the bench  more than once! Absent though were Canito, Baldé and Flavinho.

Half an hour into the game, Imortal had managed not a single attempt at goal, despite having had a fair share of possession. Their opponents managed three within a few seconds on the quarter hour, a first shot was blocked, goalie Pereira clawed the rebound out of the sky but couldn't hold it and the second rebound was blocked safely for a corner.

A couple of half chances fell Imortal's way in the few minutes before the interval. Tidjane was foiled at the last after good work by Oliveira had set him free down the left. Cassiano then blasted a free kick straight at the defensive wall. A welcome sight was the home goalkeeper being booked for making that pinched together finger gesture book him' to the ref 'after Imortal 'played on' after an offside. I wish there was more of that.

Anyway, 0-0 at half time.

The second half began slowly, but twelve minutes in there was another goal mouth scramble in front of the Imortal net that had the fans ooing and aahing. Pereira saved a free kick, but again couldn't hold the swirling ball. The rebound was blocked on the line and the second rebound was fired across the goal rather than at it, to the mutters of the home supporters.

It was fairly messy for a while after that, neither team could control the game. Up and down they went. Oliveira had a good run in on goal, but was well tackled just as he lined up a shot. Quarteira began to exert some pressure, Imortal's tackling became a little  rash and hasty.  One long free kick was floated in the from right, a shot came in from 20 yards and was blocked by a defender. By his hand said the ref. Left back Jamil, having already seen yellow for one of the rash tackles, was on his way. The free kick was well taken and a equally well saved by Pereira with a two handed push around the post for a corner.

Imortal made changes to try to hold the 0-0 score with ten men and nearly twenty minutes to play. But they didn't give up on attacks and the vital goal came their way from Calado's header. Five minutes of additional time were shown, Imortal defended well , organised by captain Rodrigues, Quarteira ran out of ideas and it was a joyous scene at the end.

Now for Wednesday's big match against Ferreiras, who maintained their 100% record yesterday. It's a holiday on Wednesday, All Saints, so it's a 3pm /1500hrs kickoff at the Albufeira Municipal Stadium.

Match stats

Free kicks conceced : Imortal 21, Quarteira 13
Offside : Imortal 3, Quarteira 3
Shots on target : Imortal 1, Quarteira 5
Shots off target : Imortal 1, Quarteira 3
Shots blocked : Imortal 2, Quarteira 3
Corners Imortal 5, Quarteira 5 (all of theirs in the second half)
Yellow cards : Imortal 2, Quarteira 4 (all theirs in the first half)
Red Cards : Imortal 2 (Jamil's two yellows making one red)

FIXTURE CHANGE!!!

Imortal's match on Saturday has been 'reversed' and they will now be at HOME to Faro e Benfica with a 3pm / 1500hrs ko.

This is because Faro e Benfica are currently homeless. Their dump of a ground at Horta da Areia in Faro has been closed down for repairs.

Imortal 0 - 0 Sambrasense poor performance against the bottom team. Luckily the other results mean Imortal don't drop down the table. Report tomorrow.

For the second time in three weeks, Imortal's away game was switched to ours at 48 hours notice! Fora  semi-professional league where people pay to watch this is becoming a nonsense. Who would think to check on a Thursday that there wasn't a change in fixtures for the coming Saturday? These are not highlighted on the Algarve FA website. So I go home from bowls in blissful ignorance that I could have seen Imortal beat Lagoa 2-1.

We have reached the halfway point of the first phase. Imortal are sixth of twelve, complete table at http://www.afalgarve.pt/index.php/futebol-distrital/sen-1-div

What the recent changes have meant is that Imortal will finish Phase 1 with four consecutive away matches, including the difficult one at Ferreiras.

CARVOEIRO UNITED 0 - 4 IMORTAL ALBUFEIRA

A good performance by Imortal, who are now six games unbeaten in this recent run, with ten goals scored and only two conceded. Sterner tests await, with the next two games being visits from Quarteirense and Lagos. A downside from yesterday will be the number of bookings, plus the sending off of Calado just before half time. With another defender Nogueira already suspended for next week, we might be a bit short at the back!

Carvieoro United are bottom of the league and without a win, but they play a frustrating kind of game. It took fifteen minutes for Imortal to get going on the synthetic grass pitch at Estombar, in front of about 50 fans policed by four armed GNR. The first attempt at goal was totally wasted by Cascalvo, who fired a free kick directly at the United goalkeeper.

There was a half decent spell of attacking by the hosts, midway through the first half forcing corners, but Carvoeiro showed why they are bottom. No-one seemed to have any idea where the goal was.

Imortal rode that spell and began their own attacks once more. Oliveira collided painfully with the 'keeper which left him struggling for the rest of the half before being subbed at half time.



It was he though that put Imortal ahead after 32 minutes. Picking up a nice pass out of midfield in open space, he beat the last defender easily and scored with a low and accurate shot from the edge of the area.

Imortal went 2-0 up a few minutes later, again thanks to Oliveira, whose penalty area challenge  below



won the ball from a defender six yards out. The ball obligingly popped out from under the bodies and he prodded it into the net. Calado then picked up his second yellow card for a pretty needless foul on the halfway line and was sent off without much protest. Imortal went in at half time two nil up, but down to ten men.

Oliveira didn't re-appear, to be replaced by Cassiano. Imortal changed to a 4-4 1 formation with Cassiano the lone forward. However it soon became obvious that there was little threat from the Carvoeiro side. Wing backs Tidjane and Maia were able to make several raids down their respective sides, with Tidjane in particular causing problems with his speed. The answer was a couple of fairly unsophisticated blocks, drawing yellow cards and free kicks.

Imortal's goalkeeper Pereira was rarely directly troubled, but did get in some good practice at dealing with crosses.



Imortal increased their lead just after the hour, Flavinho broke an offside trap, evaded a tackle and shot from distance. The keeper blocked that attempt, but when you are bottom of the league the rebound goes straight back to the opponents. Which is what it did. Flavinho steered the ball between the 'keeper's legs for the third. United thought they had pulled one back immediately afterwards, but no-one had seen the offside flag raised.

Another half chance also came their way, Imortal's defence were sent some harsh words from the bench for slack marking.



United's Ultras, a group of about a dozen twenty somethings calling themselves Orange Mental , had decamped behind the goal Imortal were defending.



Pereira complained to the ref about something being thrown at him, the ref asked two of the GNR to stir from their customary inaction and keep an eye on them. Earlier in the game they were in the stands, letting off flares which damaged two seats. Of course this is tolerated here, the watching forces of law and order did nothing.



Anyway, back to the game. Imortal were finding ways to attack. Ferreira blasted high and wide when he should have done better. Carvoeiro did muster a couple of attacks of their own, but Pereira dealt with them comfortably .



A speedy run by Tidjane down the right was stopped by a foul on the edge of the area, the resulting free kick was again wasted. Reward came on 39 minutes, a free kick floated in from the right was met with a header by captain Rodrigues - number 22 below. Whether or not he meant to place it in the top corner I don't know, but it was just good enough to beat the outstretched goalie to make it 4-0.



Game over, although there was time for Tidjane to crash a long range shot against the crossbar, which bounced away to safety.

Imortal will now be either third or fourth. I cannot find the result of last night's game between Faro e Benfica and Silves, which will affect that. Also, Quarteirense have been docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in a recent game, so they drop down the table. Imortal's next game is at home to second placed Lagos, Saturday 2nd December ko 1500hrs /  3pm.

Match stats

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 19, Carvoeiro 15 - the ref was a bit over zealous at times.
Offside : Imortal 4, Carvoeiro 5
Shots on target : Imortal 7, Carvoeiro 1
Shots off target : Imortal 3, Carvoeiro 8
Shots blocked : Imortal 2, Carvoeiro 1
Corners : Imortal 2, Carvoeiro 7
Yellow cards : Imortal 6, Carvoeiro 3
Red Cards : Imortal 1 (2 x yellow for Calado)

IMORTAL 2 QUARTEIRENSE 1

A good result for Imortal against a poor team, who nevertheless were hard to break down. That's seven games now since the last defeat and only three goals conceded.

The weather was dry and sunny, the pitch rather dry and a bit threadbare in some areas.

Imortal were a bit short on the defensive front, with both Calado and Nogueira suspended, so opted for a back three of Jamil, Rodrigues and Tidjane Baldé with midfielders dropping back to help as required.

Nothing at all was worth writing about for the first eight minutes, then Imortal took the lead with the most bonkers own goal I have seen for a while. Oliveira claimed it but everyone else said 'auto-gol'. Quarteirense were messing about with the ball around their own area, two or three passes instead of booting it up the field. Then came a suicidal pass to the ´keeper, who was under a little bit of pressure from Oliveira a few feet in front of him. Standing right on his goal line he took a mighty swipe at the ball, which skidded off the side of his boot behind him and across the line.

That settled the game for a good long time. Imortal had plenty of the ball in midfield but the visitor's defence was a hard nut to crack. Chances were few. Every now and then Quarteirense half threatened, were stopped but at the cost of too many free kicks. The ref was a bit strict awarding fourteen fouls against Imortal in the first half alone.

Imortal went further ahead on 27 minutes, a great cross from the left wing was met at the far post by Oliveira sliding in to bundle the ball over the line. He could have had his 'hat trick' a few minutes later but for an absurd decision giving a free kick to Quarteirense. Their goalkpeer made a hash of a challenge and then allowed himself to be touched lightly, adding all the usual histrionics. The first half drifted to a conclusion, Imortal were well in the game.

They came out for the second half full of beans, Quarteirense by contrast barely dragged themselves onto the pitch.

Imortal started the half well, Oliveira headed a cross supplied by Nasir onto a post. That spurred Quarteirense into action, they started playing a lot better but their finishing was dire. One especially good move ended with the ball being scooped over the bar from six yards with Imortal's defence all at sea. Imortal's defence dealt much better with later attacks, keeping the visitors at bay and restricting them to inaccurate long range shots.

But it was one of those in the second minute of added time that caught Pereira perhaps not paying full attention. He didn't handle the shot properly, no-one moved to the rebound except a man in blue. 2-1, and a slight tremor during the final three minutes of added time but in the end the win was Imortal's.

Imortal remain fourth, two points behind Silves in second spot but 14 points behind leaders Ferreiras, who won again.

Imortal do not have a game next weekend. The First Division has a day off as players represent the Algarve FA in an inter-regional competition. The next game is on 16th December, at home to Lagos, ko 1500hrs / 3pm.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 23, Quarteirense 13
Offside : Imortal 5, Quarteirense 4
Shots on target : Imortal 1, Quarteirense 2
Shots off target : Imortal 4, Quarteirense 4
Shots blocked : Imortal 1, Quarteirense 2
Corners : Imortal 7, Quarteirense 2
Yellow cards : Imortal 2, Quarteirense 3 all for assorted fouls.