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| Thursday, 15 July 2010 21:46 |
Last-gasp Maritimo grab narrow win in Europa League opener
Maritimo 3-2 Sporting Fingal
 The first Portuguese team in official action in 2010/11 scored a dramatic stoppage time winner in the Europa League against Sporting Fingal tonight. Tcho’s 94th-minute goal ensures Maritimo take a lead to Sporting Fingal are 20 games into their season, and the difference in match sharpness was evident in a first half dominated by the visitors. Pecanha saved well from Finn on two occasions, but Crowe gave the Irish team a half-time lead.
It was a different story in the second half with Maritimo taking complete control of proceedings. Tcho missed a couple of gilt-edged chances to equalise but two late goals in seven minutes from Ricardo Esteves and Cherrad appeared to have given the
However, the drama was just beginning. Fitzgerald took advantage of an Esteves slip to equalise in the 87th minute, before Brazilian striker Tcho’s late intervention saved Maritimo’s blushes.
The second leg takes place in Maritimo goalscorer, Ricardo Esteves:
“The result could have been better, but the way we are working and with another week’s training behind us I’m confident we can get the result we need there.
“Our opponents proved they are a good team and they had the advantage in that they are some way into their championship. But in the second half we were by far the better team. We’ll be going to
by Tom Kundert
Maritimo: Pecanha, Ricardo Esteves, Joao Guilherme, Robson, Alonso, Roberto Sousa, Tcho, Marquinho (Danilo, 46), Djalma (Luciano Amareal, 74), Baba, Kanu (Cherrad, 46)
Sporting Fingal: Clarke, O’Brien, Hawkins (Maher, 73), Browne, Fizgerald, McFaul, Finn, Williams, Byrne (Cahill, 88), Alan Kibry, Crowe (Zayed, 65)
Goals: [0-1] Crowe, 33
[1-1] Ricardo Esteves, 78
[2-1] Cherrad, 85
[2-2] Fitzgerald, 87
[3-2] Tcho, 94
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I didn't watch it, but form all the correspondence, the difference in match fitness was evident.
Like everyone else, I'm hoping that ALL portuguese clubs advance in their prespective tourney's. It would only help the Leagu in retaining that Champions League spot we lost.
We need a "Big Three" in Portugal not "Two".
Lets hope that they wil be better fit for the second leg, and come away with a win or draw.
As for Quaresma, he's made it clear that he doesn't give a dam about the Portuguese league and wanted to play in a stronger league, by going to Turkey?!?! If Makukula was one of the best players in that league and he can't even get a call up, I doubt we'll see Quaresma on the NT anytime soon.