IMORTAL FOOTBALL CLUB ALBUFEIRA

GUIA 0 - 1 IMORTAL

A closely contested local derby, in which the numbers favoured Imortal especially in the second half, but it took a goal deep into added time at the end for Imortal to secure the win.



It was a sunny day, but quite windy at times. Guia in green, Imortal in red.

That winning goal came from possibly an own goal, difficult to see from where I was. Good work by Juelson down the left wing got him free of his marker, he hammered the ball low and hard from the edge of the area more or less along the goal-line. Defenders and goalkeeper went for it, seemed to get in each other's way and the ball suddenly popped into the net.

Cue celebrations, there was barely time to kickoff. A the final whistle Juelson (number 8)  took exception to something said from the crowd. He was about to leap the barrier and do some damage when restrained by two GNR, several team-mates and a friend or relative who stepped onto the pitch.



The first half was slow to warm up. The gusty wind didn't help, both teams were having trouble controlling the ball on a hard surface. There wasn't a chance at either end until the 20th minute,when a rebound found Lucien on the edge of the Guia area. He was swiftly outnumbered before he could make anything of it.

A bit of 'spot the ball' for you from this first half incident. Guia in green defending. Was it at A, B, C or D? Kudos to the first correct answer.



A few more chances came Imortal's way late in the half. Ricardo Vicente managed only a tame header when unmarked on the six yard line, the same player missed with a first time volley shortly before half-time after a great downward header by Paollo. Lucien was clean through, but flagged offside in a very tight decision. Imortal finished the half on top, but one or two heavy tackles and free kicks awarded against them had the home crowd howling.

The second half started much the same as the first, the game was scrappy and the wind getting stronger. Guia had a half chance early on that came to nothing. Lucien was hacked down twenty yards out, but the resulting free kick was totally wasted.

A great take here by Lucien, but he was thwarted before he could shoot.



Juelson replaced Lucien with just over half an hour left and immediately set to task, chasing everything across the middle and down the left.

Paollo on the right wing was also given his marker a hard time. Guia's right back was in the linesman's ear the whole time, whingeing about anything and everything. Every now and then he did get a decent tackle or block in, there was no way through it seemed.





Coming up to the half hour mark, Imortal gave a away a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, Rodrigues and Chico both managed to get booked as a result. The free kick was very poor, I could have stopped it.

Then the tide swung firmly in Imortal's favour. Four corners were forced in the space of two minutes, Guia's defence was at full stretch, bodies everywhere. Imortal were completely on top, Guia barely left their half.





A shot just over the bar.



Chico forced a good save as normal time drew to a close. Nil - nil written all over it, the magic words worked and Juelson's efforts paid off. He did get himself booked for over doing the celebrations.

That was Imortal's first win in three games and good boost to confidence.

Match Stats

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 17, Guia 12
Offside : Imortal 2, Guia 6
Shots on target : Imortal 3, Guia 1
Shots blocked : Imortal 1, Guia 2
Shots off target : Imortal 9, Guia 7
Corners : Imortal 8, Guia 2
Yellow cards : Imortal 5 (at least three for dissent), Guia 2, both for fouls.

Next Saturday Imortal host Paderne in another Albufeira local derby, kickoff will be 4pm / 1600hrs and apparently in the main stadium, but i will check.

The unofficial Albufeira council mini-league table currently stands

Ferreiras played 4, 12 points
Imortal played 5, 9 points
Paderne played 4, 6 points
Guia played 5, nul points

Ferreiras play Guia also next Saturday at 4pm.

Andrew wrote: I'll have a punt at B Tom.

Spot on! And the prize is.....

Well done anyway.

IMORTAL ALBUFEIRA 4 - 2 PADERNENSE

An end of season agme livened up by some good goals and the kind of sending off that makes you wonder whether to laugh or cry. Imortal in a in fairlyt decent run of results at the moment, just the one defeat in the last sdix league matches. A win was expected against Padernense, who were virtually cerain to be relegated even if they won.

It was pretty scrappy throughout, not helped by the now usual gusting wind.

Clear cut chances were few, although Barradas for Imortal had an early opportunity which he put wide from 8 yards. Lucien, my man of teh match, had a good chanve but shot high when he had more time than eprhaps he though. A couple of counter attacks by Paderne came to nothing and we were wondering whether anyone would score when, after 30 minutes, Paderne took the lead.

A long clearance with the wind caught the Imortal defence by surprise, central defender and captain Pedro Rodrigues found himself facing two opponents on the edge of the penalty area. Caught in two minds, he left the wrong man, midfielder Pires, who turned and shot very expertly into the bottom corner of the goal giving goalie Bernardo no chance. Paderne were improvng but ther lead lasted only four minutes.  The ref adjudged a cross to have been interceptted by a defender's hand, penalty given. Barradas stepped up and drilled the ball past the ´keeper for 1-1. Paderne responded with a shot that hit the goalpost with Bernardo stranded.

Half tiem was almost upon us when Lucien was brought down just outside the left hand corner of the penalty area. The free kick was deliveed by Rodrigues, Lucien's effort from close range was blocked, the ball fell to barradas who also saw his shot blocked then the reboudn fell towards Lucien who spun adn shot in one from close range. Imotal thus had a 2-1 lead at half time.

The second half was very silly at times. The players diodn't help hbut the ref did seem to lose the plot at times, flashing seven yellow cards (at least three were for dissent) and one red.

The half began well for Imortal. Five minutes in a superb defence splitting pass from midfielder Chico put Lucien through on goal, his low hard shot from 20 yards was accurate and put Imortal further ahead.

Paderne pulled one back midway through the half, a swift counter attack once again catching Imortal's defence napping and short of numberrs. I couldn't see who scored but it was a first time effort from about 12 yards.

Chico restored Imortal's two goal advantage a few minutes later with a thunderous snap-shot from all of 25 yards that fairly rocketed past the startled goalkeeper.

Then came the sending off. Imortal full back Muguel Oliveira was to be subbed, didn't leave the field quickly enough for the referee's liking and after a 30 yard sprint by the official saw a second yellow (he had been booked a few minutes earlier for a clumsy challenge) and thus saw red.

Imortal were thus obliged to play the last twenty minutes or so with then men. Althougb Paderne did get into danger areas, their finishing was poor and the game gradually fizzled out.

Next Saturday Imortal travel to Quarteira to play Quarteirense.

Match stats

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 10, Paderne 14 including the penalty
Offside : Imortal 6, Paderne 2
Shots on target : Imortal 8, Paderne 4
Shots blocked : Imortal 2, Paderne 1
Shots off target : Imortal 4, Paderne 6
Corners : Imortal 5, Paderne 6
Yellow cards : Imortal 3 (two for dissent, one for a foul), Paderne 7 (one for the handball that lead to the penalty, one for dissent and the rest for fouls)

Albufeira council mini league now stands at

Ferreiras played 5, 15 points
Imortal played 6, 12 points
Paderne played 5, 6 points
Guia played 6, nul points

Imortal 2 - 1 Lagoa and arguably Imortal's best performance of the season. Thus ended Lagoa's hope of winning the league. More later.

Excellent report Tom. Very professional. 

A good result yesterday, 2-2 away to Moncarapachense. No report as I was unable to go. imortal are in 8th place, with one match remaining which is at home to Silves next Saturday.

Imortal 0 - 2 Silves in the final game of the season. not bad overall but Imortal had a man sent off just before half time which made it hard work. More later.