12 September 2006, by Marco Pereira

Belenenses off to solid start

Belenenses 2-0 Setubal

After weeks of uncertainty, Belenenses played their first game of the season after being granted Bwin Liga status following the Mateus Case. And the team from Lisbon could not have wished for a better start as they recorded a 2-0 victory against Setubal.

Setubal dominated the opening exchanges as Portugal Under-21 team-mates Varela and Lourenco came close to scoring but hit their chances wide of the mark.

Belenenses were still trying to find their stride after being off the pace for some time, but against the run of play the home team managed to score first.

One of league’s most underrated midfielders, Ze Pedro, struck the ball sweetly after a scramble and hit a cracking shot into the back of Setubal’s net in the 23rd minute.

Setubal tried to change their fortunes by introducing Mbamba and Amuneke into the game at the start of the second half, in place of Binho and Ademar respectively.

The changes almost paid dividends as Amuneke crossed a ball across the 6-yard box and with goalkeeper Costinha unable to get a finger to it, Mbamba just missed getting a touch on the ball which was all that was needed to push it into the net.

Chances abound

Both teams were exchanging opportunities as Ze Pedro, Silas and Roma were the catalysts behind Belenenses’ chances while Setubal were still searching to draw level and went close on a couple of occasions, but the finishing of both teams left a lot to be desired.

Finally, Belenenses got their insurance goal in the 83rd minute. A Ze Pedro corner was sent to the far post and met by the head of striker, Roma.

Belenenses coach, Jorge Jesus, was a man of few words and only congratulated his players for their efforts. “We created more opportunities than our opponents, and we did not just dominate in some parts of the match, but the entire game.”

Vitoria Setubal coach, Helio Sousa, also had little to say after the match, but got straight to the point.

“At times we were inferior to Belenenses. We had four opportunities to score before they scored their first and another two or three after that. With so many opportunities, you are obliged to win or, at least, not lose. We were ineffective and unlucky.”

Next weekend Belenenses play their first away game at Academica, while Vitoria Setubal will host Boavista.

Belenenses:
Costinha, Amaral, Rolando, Nivaldo, Rodrigo Alvim, Ruben Amorim, Ze Pedro, Silas, Roma (Dady, 85), Fernando (Djurdjevic, 82), Manoel (Candido Costa, 67)
Yellow Cards: Nivaldo (14), Rodrigo Alvim (37), Amaral (62), Roma (73)

Setubal:
Marco Tabuas, Janicio, Auri, Hugo (Verissimo, 57), Nandinho, Sandro, Binho (Mbamba, 46), Bruno Ribeiro, Varela, Lourenco, Ademar (Amuneke, 46)
Yellow Cards: Binho (20), Janicio (84) Lourenco (86)

Goals:
[1-0] Ze Pedro, 23
[2-0] Roma, 83