IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

Culatrense 0 - 7 Imortal

Imortal were five-nil up at half time, having had one of those spells where everything went right. Long passes went to feet, the one-twos and triangles in midfield all worked and shots from distance flew into the net rather than heading for row Z.

Star of the show was Cláussio Abreu, with four goals in his first start for the team having replaced Ricardo Tome.


The small pitch took some getting used to, the opening minutes were fast and furious. Abreu opened the scoring on 15 minutes with an absolute stunner. A throw by José was half cleared and fell to Abreu about 25 metres from goal, he shot on the turn sending the ball over a crowd just under the crossbar.

Culatrense tried to hit back. Some uncertain defending let in Andrade but his shot from distance went well wide.

Abreu doubled the lead on 27 minutes.  It started with good work down the left by Walter Alves, who was his usual industrious self. He cut inside, beat a defender and tried a shot, which was deflected to Abreu on the edge of the penalty area. He made no mistake with a low, hard, first time shot that gave ´keeper Rosario no chance.

Imortal almost had a third a couple of minutes later, but were denied by a great save off a deflected shot by Leandro Pimenta.

Walter Alves scored the third on 35 minutes, again cutting inside from the left, leaving defenders all at sea and sending in an accurate curling shot into the far top corner.

Rosario almost cost his team the fourth, dawdling on the ball and allowing himself to be robbed by Duarte. But he couldn't quite keep his balance and the shot went just wide.

But there wasn't long to wait for the fourth. Alves again was the instigator, his pass in from the left found Pimenta, whose shot was only half blocked leaving Abreu a simple tap-in for his hat-trick.

Just before half time it was five for Imortal. A good move down the right this time ended with Herlander Tome sending in an accurate pass to Abreu, who spun and shot accurately. The home fans in the crowd of 80 or so were stunned into silence.

Imortal made one change at half-time, bringing on João Marques for Alves, who had run his proverbial socks off. Marques had a useful game down the left hand side, including a 'goal' disallowed for a marginal offside decision.

Culatrense started the second half with a degree of purpose absent in the first period, but made no headway where it mattered. Abreu was the victim of a hard challenge early on and had to be replaced by Aldair Quiteque, who first contribution was a late tackle that earned him a yellow card.

Imortal went 6 - 0  ahead on the hour. A cross in from the left had Rosario in trouble. His attempt at pushing the ball away failed dismally with the ball landing on the head of Duarte a couple of metres out. He won't have scored an easier goal in his career.

Understandably, the game became a bit of a non-event after that. Numerous stoppages for 'injuries' and substitutions filled most of the next half hour. On the 90 minutes the referee indicated only three minutes of added time. Rosario made another good save. defenders were hacking the ball anywhere. Defender Faria seemed more interested in arguing with the linesman, in particular furious at an alleged dive by Marques for which both of them were lucky to escape a yellow card. Right at the end, with Faria's attention obviously somewhere else, Quiteque headed towards goal past where Faria should have been, his shot did not look like being a chance but it skimmed off the 'turf' onto a goalpost and in.

Final score 7 - 0.Imortal's biggest win since I don't know when. The Culatrense squad gathered in centre circle for a post-match inquest while it was smiles all round in the visitor's camp.

Next game for Imortal is on Wednesday night in the Algarve Cup. At  home to Lusitano VRSA of the second division. They won 8-0 on Saturday, so it's bound to be a boring game. NB this one will be played on the 'second' pitch up above for which entrance is next to the public swimming pool. Ko is 2030hrs. On Saturday next Imortal v Lagos in the main stadium, ko 1500hrs.

Imortal Team : Inacio; P. Rodrigues, José, Dragnev, Nascimento; Alves, H.Tome, Pimenta, Sequeira; M. Duarte, Abreu. Subs used : P. Duarte, Quiteque, Marques, Santos, Silveira.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded :Imortal 14, Culatrense 18
Offside : Imortal 3, Culatrense 2
Shots on target : Imortal 10, Culatrense 0
Shots off target : Imortal 5, Culatrense 1
Shots blocked : Imortal 3, Culatrense 0
Corners : Imortal 6, Culatrense 1
Yellow cards : Imortal 1, Culatrense 1

IMORTAL 1- 0 LAGOS

A game of two halves if ever there was! Imortal dominated the first period and took the lead five minutes before the break through Herlander Tomé. The game changed on the hour with the sending off of captain and central defender Pedro Rodrigues. He was booked for dissent and moments later mis-timed a challenge and brought down an opponent. Second yellow card and he was off.  Lagos battered the Imortal goal for the remaining 30 + 5 minutes, Imortal did not have a single goal scoring opportunity with defence the order. Five at the back kept Lagos at bay, restricting them to a handful of chances. Much relief at the end!

Imortal started well. Walter Alves had a chance after six minutes but couldn't keep his shot down. A well placed free kick by Coelho found Rodrigues' head on the far post but the ´keeper saved well. Lagos were in the game, but wasted chances. Pina shot weakly and wide from distance when unchallenged.

Back at the other end, Alves was in the thick of the action and had two shots blocked in quick succession. Duarte went down after a heavy challenge, Rodrigues spent along time remonstrating with Lagos defenders.

Lagos had a great chance to take the lead on 25 minutes, a breakaway attack found Imortal's defence disorganised, but Santos spooned the ball high over the goal from close range.

There was a bizarre two minute stoppage while Lagos player Nunes appeared to be doing nothing more than tying his bootlaces! More angry words from Rodrigues.

The deadlock was broken five minutes before half time.  A good move out of defence to Imortal's right wing, a deft flick by Luz down to Tomé whose run took him almost to the goal line about ten metres from the post. Perhaps the goalkeeper went down too early, but Tomé's flick seemed to go through his arms to drop into the far corner of the net. Cue much joy!

There's a short video clip of the goal, created from a photo burst, at https://www.facebook.com/reel/1551887169581244

Lagos were obviously told off at half time and came out energetically. Imortal conceded early free kicks, one of which went very close. Tackles were pretty robust. Nunes, he of the bootlaces, was very upset at one such tackle, no yellow card though. Lagos right winger Gomes was becoming a nuisance.

Then, after 15 minutes of the second half, Rodrigues saw yellow after one too many hard tackle. Nothing came of the free kick, then he raced across the pitch to deal with Gomes but mis-timed the challenge horribly. He accepted the second yellow and trudged off. (The official website notes two yellows and a straight red card. We will have to wait until Friday to see which gets recorded for suspension purposes.)

Henrique Sequeira, who had played so well in the midweek cup-tie, came on at once into central defence and was swiftly followed by Diego Prates to create a five man defensive line. Coelho and Alves were the players who made way.

Lagos had everything in their favour but could not break down the stubborn Imortal defence, creating only three decent goal scoring opportunities. David Inacio's safe hands in goal cut out several crosses, defenders were careful not to give anything away. Fresh legs were brought on right at the end, with Ricardo Tomé changing the balance a little with his speed picking up some of the huge clearances out of defence. It was more a matter of keeping the ball than scoring, Imortal did that well enough and even forced a corner as time ran out.

Five minutes were added on, fingers were being crossed but Lagos had run out of steam. Their frustration at the end was obvious. Three vital points for Imortal and the news that leaders Quarteirense had been held to a  draw by bottom side Messinense improved the home fans mood considerably.

Imortal team : Inacio; P. Rodrigues, José, Dragnez, Luz; Nascimento, Coelho, W. Alves; Pimenta; M. Duarte, H. Tomé. Subs used : Prates, Sequeira, R. Tomé, Silveira.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 12, Lagos 14
Offside : Imortal 0, Lagos 1
Shots on target : Imortal 2, Lagos 2
Shots off target : Imortal 2, Lagos 4
Shots blocked : Imortal 2, Lagos 0
Corners : Imortal 7, Lagos 5.
Yellow cards : Imortal 3, Lagos 1
Red cards : Imortal 1 (perhaps)

Imortal's next game is at the bleak Penha 'stadium' in Faro on Saturday when they face FC 11 Esperanças, ko 1500. The 11 Esperanças are in 11th place (of 12 teams) and a win is expected. I cannot be present as the winter bowling league starts on Saturday.

Yesterday - Imortal 3 - 1 Odiáxere. Not the best game or the best performance but keeps Imortal top of the league. Report on Monday.