Committed to returning the Liga Portuguesa crown that they won four consecutive years before surrendering it to Benfica in 2009, Porto extended its unbeaten start to the campaign with a 1-0 victory over Académica in Coimbra.

Played in a torrential downpour that surely tempted match-day referee Duarte Gomes to abandon the contest, opportunities were rare as passing was impossible within a water logged pitch. Advancing efforts were marred with the dreadful conditions each time the ball struck the pitch it immediately stopped dead in the tracks. Two minutes shy of the break, Porto notched the matches lone goal with a brilliant display of quality as Silvestre Varela turned on Álvaro Pereira’s throw in to volley the ball into the net.

While the downpour slowed after the break, the damage was done to the pitch as much of the efforts lacked continuity. The best opportunities came to Porto with Hulk unable to convert on two find chances before Hélder Cabral was adjudged a penalty for a hand ball with fifteen minutes remaining. However, in the ensuing João Moutinho rasped the ball off the woodwork, setting up a surprising late surge by Académica. The hosts had barely threatened Porto ‘keeper Helton until added time when Hugo Morais sent a free-kick off the cross bar with Modou Sougou, from close range, spooning the rebound off-course. Porto ‘keeper briefed a sigh of relief and after receiving a yellow-card for wasting time, the final whistle sounded as André Villas-Boas’ Porto claimed the 1-0 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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In an exciting finish, Zhang Chengdong scored late to send União Leiria past Académica 2-1 at Estádio Magalhães Pessoa. The result pulls the respective side level in the second spot of Liga Portuguesa table in the opening contest of match day seven.

União Leiria manager João Bastos made one change to his side that defeated Rio 1-0 last week with Marcos Paulo coming in for Paulo Sérgio. His counterpart, Jorge Costa, made no adjustments to Académica starting eleven that got past Vitória Guimarães 3-1 last week

After União Leiria narrowly missed going in front, Miguel Fidalgo gave Académica the 1-0 lead as he powerfully turned in Modou Sougou’s cross from the right side of the area. Chances were sparse after the goal with the contest turning into a box-to-box affair through to the break.

The early stages of the second half saw Académica presented the best opportunities but each chance came up empty as they clung to the one goal advantage. With twenty-one minutes remaining, Jorge Costa, substituted the goal scorer for Éder with Académica beginning to take a more defensive approach. Four minutes later, João Bastos added Zhang Chengdong as an extra attacker for Marcos Paulo and it was not long until Leiria began to lay siege to the visitors goal. With twelve minutes remaining in regulation time, the match was level on an abysmal display of defending. Initiating from a long free kick from the right that came into the box, Orlando headed clearance bounded to the right where Carlão quickly volleyed the gifted ball into the net from an acute angle. The contest was now a one-way street with Zé António being stopped by the visiting ‘keeper from close range after a further defending error by Académica. At the eighty-seven minute, the host grabbed the winning margin as Zhang Chengdong headed a free kick from the left into the net to give União Leiria the 2-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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In positively stunning fashion, Académica de Coimbra shocked Estádio José Alvalade with a 2-1 defeat of Sporting. The result leaves Sporting at fourth in the Liga Portuguesa table, a scant point above União de Leiria, whilst Académica gains important points away from relegation and moves to eleventh spot.

Though he was without former Lokomotiv Moskva man Marat Izmailov in his line-up, Carlos Carvalhal paired his new striker Sinama Pongolle with Liédson looking for impressive attacking effort. In an ominous start, at the third minute Orlando gave Académica the lead as his free kick, a common stop, somehow alluded Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patrício and bounced into the net. Six minutes shy of the half-hour João Pereira surged down the right flank before delivered a cross into the box that João Moutinho half-volleyed in from seven metres to level the match. If Leões supporters hopes were lifted by the strike, they were slowly dejected by their sides play against what most considered an easy win. After Académica goalkeeper Ricardo denied two high probability efforts the visitors grabbed on the hour as on quick assault João Ribeiro surged into box before firing the ball into the net from thirteen metres. Down by one, Sporting surged forward looking for the leveller and after seeing a penalty claim waived off, Amoreirinha cleared a last gasp goal bound effort off the line to seal Académica de Coimbra’s stunning victory.

Sporting returns to play next Friday as they visit Paços de Ferreira, whilst Académica welcomes Olhanense to Coimbra.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
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In a positively brilliant fight to the last gasp, Paços de Ferreira defeated Académica de Coimbra 2-1 at the Estádio da Mata Real. With the result Ulisses Morais’s climb to the tenth of the Liga Portuguesa table, whilst Académica nestle two points above the relegation zone at the twelfth spot.

With a backdrop of heavy rain, the opening forty-five minutes was a scrappy affair, marked with hard challenges and nary a loose ball left unchallenged. The hosts had a number of reasonable chances fall to striker William but each of his efforts were off-course and the match went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start, Ulisses Morais summoned Pizzi in for the highly talented Manuel José, on-loan from Benfica. However, at the forty-seventh minute Académica shocked the home supporters with the go-ahead goal as Rafael’s long free kick from the right was headed in by former SV Ried defender Markus Berger at the near post. Searching for equalizer, Romeu was summoned in for Paços de Ferreira with twenty minutes left on the clock in a move that would pay off late. With Académica looking as if they were going to return to Coimbra with the full three points Ricardo lodged the equalizer with five minutes remaining as he soared high to head in a Baiano’s long cross from the right at the back post. Finally, in the last gasp of the match the hosts found the winner as Romeu got behind the defenders to head in Baiano’s long, searching right wing cross from ten metres out for the shocking 2-1 victory.

Académica de Coimbra returns to play next Saturday as travel to the capital to face Sporting, whilst Paços de Ferreira visits Vitória de Guimarães the following day.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved

In less than convincing fashion, Braga extended its unbeaten run to six matches with a 2-0 victory over Académica at Estádio Cidade de Coimbra. With the result, Braga maintains its top spot in the Liga Portuguesa, whilst Académica nestle in at the eleventh spot, only three points above relegation danger.

Despite what the score suggest, Domingos Paciência’s side were unable to muster much of attack against Académica’s curmudgeonly defensive tactics. Scoring chances at a premium and it appeared the match would remain scoreless at the break until disaster struck for the hosts at the forty-first minute. Working up from the left by-line Mossoró cut into the box between two Académica defenders but with little contact, Pedrinho was assessed a penalty and the spot was pointed to. The call was highly questionable but in quick succession, Albert Meyong calmly stroked the ball into the net. After the break, Académica were noble in their effort but unable to find the needed touch to square the match. In the final minute of time, a long ball into Académica end saw goalkeeper Rui Nereu surge beyond the area only to see him red-carded for a handball. With their ‘keeper expelled and out of substitutions Lica was handed the mitts to defend the free kick. Matheus stepped up and whilst Lica put forth a brilliant effort getting his fingers on the ball, it glanced into the upper part of the net to secure the 2-0 victory.

Braga returns to play next Friday in a key battle as they welcome Sporting, whilst Académica de Coimbra travels to face Paços de Ferreira at Estádio da Mata Real.

Prepared by J. Davies
©Europa League News, 2010.
All rights reserved