16 October 2006, by Marco Pereira

Long-range strikes give Setubal first away win

Aves 1-2 Setubal

Setubal got back to winning ways when they recorded a 2-1 win at lowly Aves. The three points propel Setubal into mid-table, but the loss does nothing for the home team as they occupy 15th position in the table with only two points from six matches.

The match could not have started at a more miserable pace as neither team threatened each other’s goal or even registered one shot between them in the first 15 minutes. Setubal then had a half-chance as Amuneke miss-hit a free kick that forced Aves goalkeeper, Rui Faria, to push the ball away for a corner.

Finally, in the 32nd minute, Aves registered the first clear opportunity on goal as Freddy headed a Filipe Anunciacao cross just over the bar. The opportunity sparked another chance for Aves as Anilton headed a Hernani cross over the Setubal crossbar.

Amuneke then shot on goal and the ball just cleared Faria’s bar. Just before the break Aves had a wonderful chance to take a lead into the interval when Xano received a Freddy cross, but with all the time in the world, he contrived to miss the net completely.

After the break Aves continued where they left off in the first half, applying pressure but missing clear chances on goal. Aves coach, Neca, must have pulled out what little hair remains on his head when Freddy failed to redirect an easy ball into the Setubal net.

As is so often the case, missed chances proved costly as Setubal got the first goal of the game in the 56th minute. Lourenco, who had been invisible from the whole game up until this point, put his team a goal up with the aid of the Aves keeper. Lourenco tested Faria from distance with a weak shot but the keeper lost concentration and allowed the ball to slip through his fingers into the net.

Four minutes later Aves finally got it right and put themselves level when Sergio Nunes took advantage of a goalmouth scramble from a Hernani corner. Setubal reacted well to the setback and after coming close twice, Amuneke somehow shot over the bar after rounding the goalkeeper and with the net gapping.

Both sides had been guilty of some awful finishing, but it would be Setubal who scored the winning goal in the 81st minute when Bruno Ribeiro launched a rocket shot that sped past Faria to make it 2-1.


Aves coach, Neca:
“We started the game too introverted. We got better in spurts and ended the first half playing the way we wanted to play. We had the best two scoring opportunities in the first half.”

“In the second half we became more authoritative in attack as things were going well against a good team, but we suffered the first goal from an unlucky situation. We drew level, but ended up losing the game on a counter attack. Setubal are stronger away from home and tonight they won on luck.”

Setubal coach, Toni:
“The second half was more interesting, livelier, after a very slow first half. I believe we gave a good response in this game and managed to obtain all three points, which is important.”

“We still have to improve some aspects and we will, as the team is still evolving.”

Aves:
Rui Faria, Sergio Carvalho, William, Sergio Nunes, Anilton, Mercio (Jocivalter, 73), Filipe Anunciacao, Nene (Vitor Manuel, 46), Freddy, Hernani (Octavio, 83), Xano
Yellow Cards: Mercio (49), Filipe Anunciacao (80)

Setubal:
Joao Paulo, Janicio, Verissimo, Auri, Nandinho, Julien (Mario Carlos, 77), Binho, Bruno Ribeiro, Marcelo Labarthe (Lourenco, 55), Varela (Flavio, 90), Amuneke
Yellow Cards: Marcelo Labarthe (26), Amuneke (58), Mario Carlos (86), Varela (87)

Goals:
[0-1] Lourenco, 56
[1-1] Sergio Nunes, 60
[1-2] Bruno Ribeiro, 81