IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Yesterday, Moncarapachense B 0 - 1 Imortal no match details available as yet. An impossible place to get to on a Saturday so I could not go. Imortal therefore have six points from their first two games. They are placed third on goal difference behind Portimonense B and the 11 Esperanças, who are also on maximum points. Next week Imortal will be at home to Lusitano VRSA, Saturday 1500hrs. Lusitano have lost their first two matches.

Yesterday, Imortal Albufeira 8 - 1 Lusitano VRSA including a hat-trick for Mario Duarte a.k.a Marocas. Report tomorrow.

Yesterday : Odiáxere 2 - 3 Imortal. We looked like losing until scoring two goals in a minute towards the end. Report on Monday.

ODIÁXERE 2 - 3 IMORTAL ALBUFEIRA

Two goals in a minute late in the game gave Imortal a slightly undeserved win to maintain their 100% record after four games. They were outplayed on the artificial surface for much of the game, particularly in the first half but wasteful finishing by the hosts let them down.

It was a sunny afternoon, beer in the clubhouse €2,20 for a large one and I was able to watch most of the second half of Tottenham v West Ham on a huge TV while having my pre match drink. Crowd was around 150 in the somewhat spartan little ground, with just bare concrete to sit on. This remains the only ground I have ever been to where the entrance is through the bar. Four GNR were on hand to prevent disorder.



The backdrop over the fence is the distant hills.



The teams line up - Imortal in red.



And the captains make the toss-up.



The Imortal team showed a couple of changes from last time, with Luis Almeida and Mauro Jose making their first starts. Almeida had a good early effort from distance, which was well saved. The early stages were very stop and start, with petty free kicks interrupting the flow every couple of minutes. An unusual event after 18 minutes. Both teams were pulled up by the referee for taking the same throw in the wrong place. Unusual because the normal practice here is to take any throw at least ten metres further towards the opposition goal.

Odiáxere had couple of early chances, notably from the fast winger Varela. But then Imortal went ahead, rather against the run of play, when a long range first time effort from Walter Alves fairly shot into the net past the helpless goalkeeper. Odiáxere responded with Varela and Tavares creating chances, but were foiled by a mixture of poor final passes and people being offside when it mattered.

Right at the end of the first half, Tavares was booked for a late hit on Alves. The usual fracas followed, with Imortal's Cintra getting booked for his part in the discussion and an Imortal coach seeing red for reason unknown considering he was on the very far side of the pitch! There was time for Imortal's Romeiro to miss an open goal, but he was flagged offside anyway. But 1-0 to Imortal at half time.

Odiáxere came out for the second half meaning business and attacked in force. After 17 minutes, the ever troublesome winger Varela sent in a low hard cross from the right, which was deflected in by Pedro Rodrigues at the near post for the own-goal equaliser. Imortal responded at once, Duarte had a good shot from outside the penalty area but it went over. Back immediately came Odiáxere with another move down their right, this time the cross was sent in by Fragoso, headed in perfectly from eight metres by Digo Rodrigues.

Inacio later shows a safe pair of hands.



The crowd were getting loud. Imortal made three changes after 20 minutes, taking off Almeida, Jose and Alves, on came Coelho, Balde and Rangel. Odiáxere began what is now called 'game management' by delaying the game at every opportunity just to break up any rhythm Imortal might have been wanting to build up. And it was working.

Mass defence for the home team and an Imortal chance missed - spot the ball!





Then all changed. Ten minutes of normal time remained when Imortal gained only their third corner of the match. The ball was swung in under the crossbar and not properly dealt with. The loose ball fell to Tome (aka Ruca) who jabbed it home from six metres. From the kickoff the ball went back to Inacio in the Imortal goal. His huge kick took one bounce just inside the other half, flew high. Defender, goalkeeper and Rangel converged on the landing zone, out came a foot from Rangel, which sent the ball the 25 metres across the smooth synthetic grass and across the line. Cue mass celebrations among Imortal players and fans.

Now it was a question for Imortal, how to keep the lead. Odiáxere were clearly bent on the equaliser, Tavares had yet another shot cleared for a corner. A miserly six minutes of added time was announced, groans from home fans and management. Imortal's defence dealt with everything, Rodrigues doing the captain's bit in keeping things organised.

A good win in the circumstances. Next up is a visit from SC Olhanense. Having swept all before them in Division Two last season, they were expected to be a force this time out. But they have won only one of their first four matches. Still, given their resources and large travelling support I expect next week's game to be close. That game will be on Saturday 26th October, ko 15.00hrs.

Imortal Team : Inacio; Pedro Rodrigues, Jose, Dragnev, Cintra; Alves, Almeida, Romeiro, Sousa: Duarte, Tome. Subs used : Rangel, Santos, Balde, Coelho, Prates.

MATCH STATISTICS

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 11, Odiáxere 10
Offside : Imortal 2, Odiáxere 3
Shots on target : Imortal 4, Odiáxere 2
Shots off target : Imortal 3, Odiáxere 4
Shots blocked : Imortal 3, Odiáxere 2
Corners : Imortal 4, Odiáxere 8
Yellow cards : Imortal 4, Odiáxere 3
Red cards : Imortal assistant coach