IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

IMORTAL 0 - 1 MONCARAPACHENSE

Despite a much improved showing, Imortal still remain winless and at the bottom of the table. They had better scoring chances than Moncarapachense and ruled the second half, but failed to make the best of things. The single goal that settled the game was scored after just four minutes.  Sub Kaiao Xavier had Imortal's best opportunity towards the end, but a great save from visiting ´keeper Bissoloti denied him.

Head coach Moreira made three changes from last week's team. Cortez returned to midfield after suspension, Ricardo Ramos was given his first start of the season and Fadini replaced Lusino in midfield. Mendes and Nuno Pereira returned to the subs bench.

Half the crowd has not even taken their seats when Moncarapachense took the lead. A fairly easy goal it was too. Their first corner was well delivered to the near post by Marco Costa, who showed his ability at set pieces throughout the game. Diego Conceição headed home powerfully from close range.  Imortal were clearly unsettled by this early setback. A few minutes later, Silva headed just wide from a Costa free kick. Imortal were unable to get out of their own half. It was 16 minutes before Bissoloti even touched the ball. The first half hour it was almost all one way traffic, but towards the end of the half Imortal began to show some resolve. Wing back Diego Prates was finding space, but his control let him down at the last. Daniel Oliveira was also in the picture, once being denied by a marginal offside decision. It remained 0 -1 at half time with Moncarapachense having had nine shots to Imortal's one.

Imortal took a while to get going again after the break. Early on, Cortez lost the ball in midfield, Costa broke clear but his weak effort was easily saved. Pedro Rodrigues returned to action, coming on as sub after 11 minutes to replace Oliveira, Bruno Torres moved forward in a reshuffle. He was promptly clattered and took a while to get to his feet. Imortal were in charge but either the final ball or the finish was not good enough. Mendes had a good shot blocked for a corner as the game became a little fractious, with the yellow card being brandished three times in five minutes. The referee was a bit picky, awarding a total 33 free kicks!


Imortal remain bottom and four points behind. In ten games they have scored nine and conceded seventeen. Scoring is the problem, with the biggest defeats having been by only a two goal margin. No game next week because of the FA Cup. Next match will be at home to Lusitano Évora on 2nd December, ko 1500hrs. They are currently fifth in the league with fifteen points from nine games. In those nine games, just nine goals have been scored, six by them and three by their opponents. Does Imortal's next game have nil-nil written all over it? Somehow I doubt it.

Imortal team : Texeira, Prates, Gonçalves, Torres, Cortez, Ramos, Santos, Oliveira, Duarte, Bernardo, Fadini. Subs used : Rodrigues, Mendes, Xavier.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 18, Moncarapachense 15
Offside : Imortal 4, Moncarapachense 1
Shots on target : Imortal 3, Moncarapachense 4
Shots off target : Imortal 3, Moncarapachense 3
Shots blocked : Imortal 3, Moncarapachense 0
Corners : Imortal 5 (all in the second half), Moncarapachense 6
Yellow cards : Imortal 5, Moncarapachense 4
Red Cards - none