IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Algarve League Division Two second phase

Given the respective records of the two teams in the second phase, the result was never in doubt. Had it not been for some good work by Danny Cabrita in the Imortal goal and some wasteful shooting in the first half, it could easily have been four or five. Imortal didn't really start playing until the last twenty minutes or so, but by then it was too late.

A warm but windy evening greeted players and spectators at the Municipal Stadium. A full bag and body search on the way in by one of seven armed police, deemed necessary to keep order in the crowd of about 200. That's about 190 more than normally watch Imortal B. The visiting fans were in good voice, with flags and banners, knowing that a win would guarantee them promotion and start their rise back up the leagues after enforced demotion.

The first half belonged totally to Olhanense. Imortal did not manage a single shot at goal. There was a half chance early on, but the Olhanense goalie Maia was just able to grab a good ball heading in the direction of William Jr. Olhanense deployed two very fast wingers, Pina and Daniel Oliveira, who caused Imortal's defence no end of problems. That wasn't helped by an injury to centre back Alexandre Tavares, who had put in some able tackles and clearances before he was caught up in a tangle of legs on the half hour. He tried to stay on, but admitted defeat five minutes later.

Imortal were lucky not to go behind shortly after, when Januário blasted a rebound just over the bar from 20 metres. Cabrita foiled another attack with a well timed run off his line to clear from Pina's run, but the pressure was mounting. A free kick was lofted into the area, Cabrita punched well to clear but the ball was sent back into the danger zone to be met by the head of Hugo Matias at close range. Olhanense wanted the second badly, but several times were miles offside, not reading the line. Just before half time they really should have scored. The line was  at last read correctly, with three attackers facing one defender, but Oliveira was greedy and opted for a shot instead of passing. Cabrita blocked the shot for a corner.

The second half began badly for Imortal. A succession of defensive errors gifted the ball to Oliveira on the left wing. Acres of space for the cross to the far post and an easy tap-in for Serodio. Imortal did react, William Jr. had a good one-two move with Manuel Oliveira but the final ball was just too long. Pretty much how Imortal's game was going. Too many short passes giving Olhanense's well organised defence to become even more organised. William managed Imortal's first direct attempt on goal mid-way through the half, well over as was a second effort a few minute later. Olhanense were content to sit back and let Imortal do all the running. William's best shot came on 35 minutes, a superb shot on the turn that grazed the crossbar before heading to safety. Full-back Silva sent in a hopeful high ball that Maia in the visitors goal had to deal with. Imortal's game was much more open, long passes making the defence work but the final ball or finish wasn't there. The referee announced three added minutes, during which Imortal's Hugo Melo tried two very long range shots, sending the ball high and wide into the trees at the back of the stadium.

The celebrations among the Olhanense fans got under way as the final whistle neared. They will of course be meeting Imortal's first team in the Algarve League next  season.

Imortal team . Cabrita; Silva, Salvador, Almeida, Tavares; Barros, Martins, Pacheco, Melo; William Júnior, M. Oliveira. Subs used : Fialho, Borges, Nabe and Santos.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded: Imortal 8, Olhanense 10
Offside : Imortal 0, Olhanense 11
Shots on target : Imortal 1, Olhanense 6
Shots off target : Imortal 5, Olhanense 4
Shots blocked : none
Corners : Imortal 2, Olhanense 6
Yellow cards : Imortal 1, Olhanense 0
Red cards : none

Result - Messinense 0 - 2 Imortal

Imortal's scorer on Saturday was Mario Duarte, his second in two games. The winner came in the 77th minute.

Imortal Albufeira 8 - 1 Lusitano VRSA
Balde, Ramos and Tome

As complete and utter a demolition of a poor opponent as it looks. The only blip was towards the end when confusion in defence allowed Lusitano a consolation goal, to which they nearly added right at the end but Inacio pulled off a fine save.

The pitch was a bit soggy in places after the recent heavy rain. It was gloomy all afternoon with the floodlights coming on a half time with low cloud bringing rain for most of the second half. The crowd was swelled by a noisy but good natured stag group from England, plus a number of families on holiday with their children. The club shop did good business!

Imortal were a little slow to get going. Although they penned the visitors into their own half, the final pass was wanting. There were half chances then on 18 minutes things finally got going. A terrible shot by Romeiro was heading across goal, Duarte simply stuck out a leg and the ball fairly rocketed past Goncalves in the visitors goal. That was the first of several bad things to happen to him on an unfortunate day.

The lead was doubled eight minutes later, Duarte again the scorer, stabbing in from close range after defenders had failed to clear a corner. A minute later it should have been three. Romeiro was clean through on the edge of the penalty area, couldn't make up his mind whether to cross or shoot and ended up giving the ball to the ´keeper. But Lusitano already had the air of a beaten team. Another good effort by Coelho was just wide, set up by good passing play down the left by Dragnev and Alves. Tome on the right wing with his distinctive bright red hairdo, easily beat his opposing defender, but lost the ball trying to be clever, rather than just have a shot. Then came two goals in a minute.

Tome once again beat a defender down the right hand side (a replacement as the first chap has already been subbed) and laid on a perfect ball which Ramos swept into the goal from around 15 metres. From the kickoff, Lusitano tried to play it into their own half, but the right back wasn't looking when he made the final pass towards the ´keeper from a long way out. Could he not see Duarte standing behind him? Obviously not, the gift was grace fully accepted to make it 4-0.

Santos made it five shortly after half time, Tome being the provider. Lusitano had obviously something in their half time drinks, going on the attack and winning two early corners, but nothing came of the. Tome then brought a good save, before shortly after he was felled by the goalkeeper - penalty but no card as Tome was moving away from the goal. Not many complaints. Tidjane Balde was asked by the referee to move the ball about five centimetres onto the spot, but that didn't put him off, kick expertly taken low into the bottom right hand corner.

Tome was involved in the next goal, challenging with the goalkeeper whose weak punch fell to Santos on the edge of the area, from where it was buried with force. Tome struggled a bit after that, having done a lot of running on a heavy pitch. But he stayed on and got his reward five minutes before the end of normal time. Totally in the clear down the right wing, he skipped around the stranded goalkeeper to make it eight as thunder rumbled in the background.

Imortal had conceded the goal a few minute earlier. The substitutions has shuffled the defence around which perhaps caused some confusion. Attempted clearances were botched, Castro taking advantage to roll the ball over the line from close in. They had that second good effort right at the end, but Inacio was on hand to tip a fierce shot over the bar. Three minutes added time was played out sensibly for Imortal's best win for many a season.

Next Saturday it's away to Odiáxere, currently 7th in the league.

Imortal Team : Inacio; Pedro Rodrigues, Dragnev, Cintra, Coelho; Ramos, Alves, Romeiro; Duarte, Tome, Sousa. Subs used : Almeda, Santos, Balde, Salvador.

Match statistics :

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 13, Lusitano 9 plus the penalty. There were only six free kicks in the first half!
Offside : Imortal 2, Lusitano 0
Shots on target : Imortal 10, Lusitano 2
Shots off target : Imortal 2, Lusitano 2
Shots blocked : none
Corners : Imortal 7, Lusitano 4
Yellow Cards : Imortal 3, Lusitano 6. (according to official website. I didn't spot that many.)
Red cards : none

If you are on Facebook, find either the Imortal DAC club page or Imortal fans pages where there are links to video highlights and photos. I am not on Facebook and the links are blocked for me.