A roundup of the 'Liga Portugal 2' Action - Gameweek 18
We once again return to Liga Portugal 2 as we pass the halfway point of the season with Jornada 18 - highlights include: Benfica’s Past vs Benfica’s Future, Life Still in Varzim, Bruno Teles Vanishes Viseu, and Trouble in Paradise for Estoril. Article by José Almeida. You can follow José on Twitter - @IwasJoseAlmeida.
Chaves v Feirense
Jornada 18 begins in the north of Portugal as two promotion hopefuls battle it out with only four points separating each other. Chaves and the visiting Feirense are very similar sides, so it is no surprise that they remain so close together in the table. They have each shown numerous times that they have the players and quality in their sides to challenge for promotion. However, both teams tend to slip up fairly regularly to sides they would expect to beat. Feirense could go second with a victory, but the pressure remains higher for the home side of Chaves, a loss here could see Mafra, Casa Pia, Penafiel and Arouca all overtake Trasmontanos with the sides in the promotion spots also potentially getting further away.
It was a fairly even match; Chaves held the ball more but creating chances and being clinical in front of goal has always been more of Feirense’s strength this season and not Chaves’, which was the difference between the two clubs today. Feirense had enough to pass the test and Chaves did not, and today’s result is the perfect example of why I feel Chaves will not be promoted this season and Feirense possibly could; Chaves have no consistent goalscorers. A ninth-minute header from Abraham Marcus was enough to give Feirense all three points in a tough battle away from home. Marcus’s seventh goal of the season means Filo’s men will end Saturday in second place with promotion on their mind.
Full-Time Chaves 0-1 Feirense
Oliveirense v Vizela
When we last visited Liga Portugal 2, it was Jornada 12, and Oliveirense found themselves in the relegation zone. Relegation is still a possibility for UDO but they are certainly much comfier nowadays sitting in a healthy 12th largely thanks to two massive victories in January over Feirense and Ac Viseu. Today’s challenge won’t be an easy one though. Vizela were flying in Jornada 12 and they don’t seem to have ever landed. In fact, Vizela last tasted defeat on November 1st away to Arouca, leaving them currently unbeaten nine games in a row. Álvaro Pacheco is doing a wonderful job at Vizela his side has scored in every game this season except one and today was no different. Confident performance from the boys from Braga who were 1-0 up by half time with Samu’s third goal of the season. Mohamed Aidara then made it two not long after the resume with a simple header; the Ivorian’s second goal of the season — his first coming in Vizela’s previous win against Penafiel on Jornada 16 —. Vizela’s top scorer Cassiano then put the game beyond doubt on the hour mark when he scored another simple goal, this time getting on the end of a ball drilled across the area for an easy tap in. It was a confident Vizela performance all-round as they remain 4th in the Liga and stretch their unbeaten run to an impressive ten games!
Full-Time Oliveirense 0-3 Vizela
Vilafranquense v Benfica B
Sunday’s round of fixtures began with a mid-table encounter that was more like a Benfica alumnus match than it was two Liga Portugal 2 sides facing off. Former long time Benfica youth teams coach João Tralhão welcomed the Young Eagles and their new manager Nélson Veríssimo to his new home of Vilafranquense, as well as welcoming new Vilafran player Diogo Pinto - who made his professional debut in this fixture back in 2019 for Benfica B in a 4-0 loss to Vilafran. It looked like it was going to be another heavy scoreline today as Vilafranquense went two goals up by the half-hour mark, a delightful team goal finished off by yet another former Benfica player Evandro Brandão and a header from captain Diogo Coelho strolling UDV to a comfortable half-time lead - immediately before Vilafranquense’s second goal they tried to play out the back and almost gifted Benfica B one back after losing the ball, luckily though the chance was wasted though the lesson was clearly not learned, in the second half a scrappy goal from a corner was converted by Pedro Ganchas that brought Benfica within one of Vilafran before yet another mistake was made, this time a loose ball back to the keeper was picked up by Benfica’s Henrique Araújo - who flicked the ball over Tiago Martins in the Vilafranquense goal and scored into the empty net. Both had chances to win the game though it was mostly all Vilafran towards the end. Paolo Bernardo was sent off for Benfica B in the last minutes when he kicked the ball away in frustration. The former Benfica men who shared their new home couldn’t capitalise though and find the winner, having to share the points with their former employers. Vilafranquense sit in 12th, while Benfica B are on their best unbeaten run so far this season with five games without defeat — last four games all being draws — landing the Young Eagles one spot in front in 11th.
Full-Time Vilafranquense 2-2 Benfica B
Académica v Ac Viseu
Académica looked to be in the discussion for automatic promotion just a little while ago then they met Ac Viseu in the Taça de Portugal. It appears the 3-0 thrashing at the hands of Pedro Duarte’s side that day has caused some problems in the city of Coimbra. Since they met on the 11th of December, Académica have won just two of their previous six games going through a pretty bad spell compared to the standards they set before the cup tie with Viseu. Today’s match will be interesting to say the least - one good way to vanish the Viseu voodoo Briosa have picked up would be to comfortably run out winners here and show everyone in the Liga that Académica are back to their best. It was anything but comfortable for Académica, but Rui Borges’s men managed to come out of the match-up on top with veteran left-back Bruno Teles ensuring the victory. Teles got the opener from the penalty spot on the 52nd minute before Paul Ayongo then equalised for the visitors ten minutes later, tense affair for the remainder of the game and the poor run for Académica looked like it was going to continue. Thankfully for Académica though they had Bruno Teles in their side today, the Brazillian really did save Briosa’s skin when he drove the ball low and hard from range into the bottom right corner for the 88th-minute match-winner. Questions remain for Briosa, but a win is a win and they once again, occupy second place in the Liga. Académica will face first-place Estoril in the next Jornada a massive test for the Coimbra men.
Full-Time Académica 2-1 Ac Viseu
FC Porto B v Varzim
Pardon the cliché, but Liga Portugal 2 also hosted a massive relegation six-pointer this weekend. Winning the match was vital for both Porto B and Varzim as they each occupy the bottom 17th and 18th positions in the table. Varzim also are five points behind Cova da Piedade who sit in the non-relegation spot of 16th with a game in hand over Varzim this isn’t a match for the faint-hearted it will take some determination for Varzim to escape the drop. However, there is hope since the start of the year Varzim has picked up five points under new manager António Barbosa - which isn’t great but when you consider Poveiros have eleven points all season, it really does show a step in the right direction. Porto B on the other hand, have so many amazingly talented players, so it’s a little surprising they are in the relegation zone, with the likes of Chico Conceição and Danny Loader among their ranks. However, one quick look into the side and the surprise fades. Yes, Porto B can score goals and have creative players but they are truly shocking defensively. Porto B haven’t kept a single clean sheet this season conceding 31 goals the last time they didn’t concede a goal was coincidentally almost a year ago; when they beat today’s foes Varzim 2-0 on February 2nd, 2020. Both sides also met on the opening match of this season which Varzim won 1-0 thanks to an 18th-minute goal from Yusuf Tunc, not much changed this time out the only difference was Luis Pedro scored the winning goal - just one minute later than Tunc’s on the 19th minute. Massive three points for Varzim as they look like they still have life in them, Porto B However, I’m not so sure.
Full-Time Porto B 0-1 Varzim
Casa Pia v Leixões
Sunday’s final fixture saw us return to Lisbon as we check in on the clubs of Casa Pia and Leixões. Previously I called Casa Pia my dark horse for promotion as they pick up some big results and never look like they are easy for anyone to play against, Casa sit in 7th with a win today meaning a great deal to their promotion chances. Leixões have spent most of the season battling relegation, but since the beginning of the new year Os Bebés have still to be defeated; with João Eusébio picking up two draws in his final two games in command at the Estádio do Ma. José Mota then took over the reins and guided Leixões to three wins in a row before a 1-1 draw in the last Jornada to Académica now leaves the men from the port undefeated in all six games in 2021. Is it too late for a Leixões promotion push?… I’m not sure, the consistency needed at this stage is a lot to ask from Mota and his new-look side. Today’s test was a tough one, a first half-goal from Ghanaian Malik Abubakar gave Casa the lead at the break, then Leixões’s Nigerian super-sub Adewele Sapara grabbed an equaliser in the second half, — Sapara’s second goal of the season his only other goal came in the first meeting between these two on the opening Jornada — as neither side were able to win the game, it’s now seven games without defeat for Leixões meaning they sit in a healthy 10th position. Casa Pia sit in 6th although with eight draws this season Casapianos have the second most in Liga Portugal 2, a little too many for promotion.
Full-Time Casa Pia 1-1 Leixões
Mafra v Cova da Piedade
Liga Portugal 2 returns with two games this Tuesday evening, the first encounter is free-falling Mafra who are winless in seven games facing off against a struggling Cova da Piedade winless in five and sitting just one spot above the drop zone. The fall of Mafra has been staggering they looked like one of the best teams in the Liga just a couple months ago, Mafra must win this game to have any chance of getting this season back on track. With Varzim picking up points they now sit just two points behind Cova. Tonight’s match will be a big test for Cova boss Mário Nunes in his second ever game as a manager. The young coach learned from the best in the recently departed Vítor Oliveira, and it will undoubtedly be a great contest as both sides need to break their winless runs. No victor was to be sadly as Mafra and Cova were locked in a 1-1 stalemate. João Patrão scored the opener for Cova in the first half before Stevy Okitokandjo’s seventh goal of the season meant both sides would continue their winless ways for another Jornada.
Full-Time Mafra 1-1 Cova da Piedade
Arouca v Estoril
Tuesday’s other match-up sees Liga leaders Estoril do battle with 9th placed Arouca. The Estorilistas have been amazing this season, but two draws in their last two Liga Portugal 2 games now leaves Bruno Pinheiro’s men in a bit of a rut. Although, a massive win over Primeira Liga side Maritimo to advance into the Taca de Portugal semi-finals in their last match must be a great confidence boost. Arouca are winless in five, and I’m sure Estoril is the last team they’d want to face on this bad run. Watching the game however you would have no idea, Arouca played out their skin perhaps the change of players or the after-effects of the extra-time cup tie against Maritimo is to blame. Arouca for sure won’t care, new signing Arsénio grabbed the only goal of the game when some good play down the left side saw the former Al Feiha man beat Estoril keeper Daniel Leite - his second goal in as many games. It was an attack-minded match from both sides with the end of the first half resembling more of a basketball game. Estoril looked dangerous and like they were sure to get a goal, but Hugo Gomes chopped down Arsénio to receive a red card just over five minutes into the second half as it became more and more apparent it was not to be Canarinhos night. Arouca held on for an unexpected victory, rising into 6th. Estoril remains top, but their lead is shrinking. Académica visits the Estadio António Coimbra da Mota next Jornada and if they can pick up the win over Estoril - they will take the spot at the top.
Full-Time Arouca 1-0 Estoril
