Guimaraes thrash Estrela to make Champions League

Vitoria Guimaraes 4-0 Estrela da Amadora

Guimaraes equalled their best ever finish in the Portuguese top flight by hammering Estrela da Amadora 4-0 to secure a third-place finish and make it to the final qualifying round of the Champions League.

The feat is a personal triumph for experienced coach, Manuel Cajuda, who took over the northerners 20 months ago with the team halfway down the second division table.

After guiding Portugal’s best supported club outside the big three back into the top flight, the wily coach has overseen a brilliant season for Guimaraes, culminating in a return to European football.

The hosts started nervously, but once Flavio Meireles had broken the deadlock with a brave diving header in the 37th minute, there was little doubt that the 27,710 spectators packed into the Dom Afonso Henriques stadium would end the night partying.

Alan, Andrezinho and Desmarets all added goals in the second half and Cajuda was held aloft at the final whistle as the entire city went into celebration overdrive.

“We have earned the right to have a party, but we must also be sensible because the responsibilities at this club have increased because of what we have achieved,” said the exuberant coach.

“This is the best moment of my career. We’ve made it to the qualifying stage of the Champions League, we have equalled the best ever classification by Guimaraes, and we were fighting until the last moments of the season for second place.

“Words cannot describe this moment.”

Guimaraes:
Nilson (Nuno Santos 85), Andrezinho, Sereno, Geromel, Momha, Joao Alves, Flavio Meireles (Moreno 82), Desmarets, Alan, Ghilas (Fajardo 62), Roberto

Estrela da Amadora:
Pedro Alves, Rui Duarte, Wagnao, Hugo Carreira, Helder Cabral, Fernando (Pedro Pereira 72), Tiago Gomes, Mateus (Marcelo Goianira 83), Mendonça, Ndiaye (Celestino 55), Giancarlo

Goals:
[1-0] Flavio Meireles, 37
[2-0] Alan, 70
[3-0] Andrezinho, 73
[4-0] Desmarets, 88