21 May 2007, by Marco Pereira

Setubal beat Naval to pull off remarkable escape

Naval 1-2 Setubal

Vitoria Setubal pulled off a major away win as they beat Naval 2-1 to move out of the relegation zone on the final day of the season after staring the weekend bottom of the league.

Elivelton opened the scoring for the home side, but the Sadinos struck back with goals by Auri and Ayew to ensure that they will play in the Bwin Liga again next year.

The away team’s efforts to stay in the top flight took a turn for the worse in the 9th minute when Elivelton showed nerves of steel as he headed a Fajardo cross into the net to make it 1-0.

But the visitors got a goal back soon after when Auri was first to a Rui Dolores corner kick and headed the ball home to draw the scores level.

Naval almost restored their lead in the 26th minute as Fajardo was all alone with only Milojevic to beat, but the Setubal goalkeeper pulled off a huge save to keep the scores even.

Then in the 33rd minute Taborda collapsed mentally as he completely gaffed an easy Varela shot and allowed the ball to slip through his fingers, with Ayew on the spot to make it 2-1.

Upon the restart Setubal almost struck a third goal as Ayew managed to get the ball past Taborda, but not the post. In the 72nd minute Setubal came close again as Varela’s free kick did not miss the net by much.

The combination of Setubal’s victory, Aves’ loss and Beira-Mar’s draw means that the Sadinos have earned their place in the highest level of Portuguese football.

But worse things may lay ahead for the club as they are on the brink of bankruptcy, behind in the payments of salaries and look likely to lose their coach, Carlos Cardoso.

Naval:
Taborda, Mario Sergio, Paulao (Gaucho, 23), Fernando, China, Orestes, Pedro Santos (Lito, 46), Fajardo, Saulo (Joao Ribeiro, 63), Nei, Elivelton
Yellow Cards: Orestes (71)

Vitoria Setubal:
Milojevic, Janicio, Auri, Ndiaye, Verissimo, Sandro, Binho, Rui Dolores, Varela, Ayew (Mbamba, 84), Amuneke (Kim Byong, 73)
Yellow Cards: Verissimo (58), Binho (90)

Goals:
[1-0] Elivelton, 9
[1-1] Auri, 17
[1-2] Ayew, 33