The stakes were high in Torres Vedras this afternoon and it showed with both the hosts and the visitors Casa Pia focusing foremost on not making mistakes in the first leg of the promotion-relegation playoff.
The result was a game of few chances and a 0-0 draw, leaving it all down to the second leg in Rio Maior next Thursday 28 May, where Casa Pia will be without Pedro Rosas after the left-back’s red card.
***
Chances few and far between
It was a stodgy first half with little work for either goalkeeper. Torreense midfielder Alejandro Alfaro shot following a counter-attack in the 13th minute from inside the box but his effort lacked power and Patrick Sequeira gathered the ball easily.
The hosts began to gain a slight ascendancy as half time approached, with Javi Vázquez swinging over a couple of wickedly delivered crosses, albeit without leading to direct chances. One can understand why the Spanish defender has accumulated 10 assists this season.
The second half almost started with a bang, Casa Pia striker Cassiano firing over the bar with Torreense goalkeeper Lucas Paes out of position.
Back came the hosts, Dany Jean forcing Sequeira into a sharp reaction save to tip his fierce shot over the bar in the 57th minute.
Both teams appeared more proactive than in the first half but chances continued to be a scarce commodity.
Glaring miss, red card!
A flurry of action in the 72nd minute got the fans off their feet. Dailon Livramento seemed certain to score for Casa Pia after superb work by Gaizka Larrazabal, but the substitute did not get enough power on his header from practically under the bar and the diving Paes made a sprawling save.
In the subsequent scramble Rosas hacked down Guilherme Liberato with a dangerous tackle and received a straight red card after a VAR review.
Casa Pia, from looking certain to take the lead, were now facing the prospect of playing the last 15 minutes a man down.
Curiously, the visitors had a good chance to take the lead almost immediately, but the hapless Livramento again fluffed his lines, trying to round the goalkeeper when one-on-one but slipping and seeing the opportunity pass by.
Truth be told, Torreense were unable to make their man advantage tell, a Léo Azevedo effort from a tight angle that flew wide their only sniff of goal.
Casa Pia prepare for second leg, Torreense prepare for Cup final
The game proved both teams are evenly matched and it would be brave man to predict who will come out top next week.
It was the first of three crunch games for Torreense to round off what has been a memorable season. Before the second leg to determine if they will return to the top flight for the first time since 1992, they will lock horns with Sporting in the Portuguese Cup final on Sunday at Jamor.
