6 November 2006, by Tom Kundert

Barbosa magic boosts Academica

Academica 2-0 Estrela da Amadora

Two second-half goals earned Academica a welcome three points against Estrela da Amadora in Coimbra yesterday. Helder Barbosa was the star of the show, setting up one goal and scoring the second to give Manuel Machado’s team only their second victory of the season.

The win puts some distance between Academica and the relegation zone, while Estrela remain in penultimate place and seemingly destined for a long hard season.

After a forgettable opening half, the match was transformed with the arrival of Helder Barbosa who came on after the interval as a substitute for Nuno Piloto.

Portugal under-21 star Barbosa showed great skill and vision shortly before the hour mark. He embarked on a mazy run and then delivered a pinpoint cross onto the head of Dame N’Doye, who scored with a powerful header from the edge of the penalty box.

On 67 minutes Barbosa controlled the ball in the box, span past his marker and rifled a rising shot into the net to make the game safe for Academica.

Manuel Machado, Academica coach:

We played a good match, maybe our best match at home this season. We are improving and this was obvious from the performance.”

Dauto Faquira, Estrela da Amadora coach:

“We weren’t inferior to Academica, who were simply more effective than us in their finishing. We also created opportunities, but we didn’t score from them.”

Academica:
Pedro Roma, Kaka, Litos, Nuno Luís, Lino, Roberto Brum, Paulo Sergio (Pavlovic, 86), Nuno Piloto (Helder Barbosa, 46), Filipe Teixeira (Medeiros, 71), Miguel Pedro, Dame N’Doye

Estrela da Amadora:
Paulo Lopes, Edu Silva, Amoreirinha, Jose Fonte, Rui Duarte, Tiago Gomes, Jordao (Pedro Simoes, 54), Ndiaye, Jaime, Paulo Sergio (Moses, 73), Dario
Yellow Cards: Jordao (31), Tiago Gomes (35)

Goals:
[1-0] Dame N’Doye, 59
[2-0] Helder Barbosa, 67