IMORTAL 1 - 0 LAGOA Sunday 23rd August 2026

Hard work against a well organised opponent. A game of very few decent chances, neither goalkeeper really had a save to make. The single goal was a moment worth waiting for. Nine minutes into the second half, midfielder Rafael Baiao found himself in acres of space, took the ball forwards over the half way line, unchallenged he let fly from distance into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The ball did bounce to be fair to the 'keeper, but an excellent strike nevertheless. Imortal's only shot on target! Baiao went off to well deserved round of applause when subbed a few minutes before the end.


It was a cool and cloudy day, not at all a summer afternoon in the Algarve! In fact it was so gloomy the floodlights came on 20 minutes into the game, which was a 5pm /1700hrs kickoff. And it even rained, just a little, from half time onward. Enough to annoy the visiting fans, about 50 of whom had been segregated into an open section at one end of the stand. Several of them made their way rather precariously along the back wall to be under the roof. Where they were ignored by the 'safety steward' and the police.

Lagoa had the better start, but no there were clear cut scoring chances. Imortal got going after about ten minutes. Diogo Cabral was almost on the end of a decent free kick and was then thwarted by a good interception. Lagoa have a couple of solid centre halves, in the shape of Chriseverton Silva and Kenneth Sebastian. They kept things under control for most of the game. Imortal's star forward Mario Duarte, playing with his back to the goal for most of the game, was largely kept kept of it.

The game was up and down, the lights came on. Imortl defender Heder Pina wasted a good chance, shooting wildly from an overlapping run when a cross might have been better.

Lagoa almost scored just before half time, when Emmanuel Eze just failed to connect with a cross that had beaten several defenders. Imortal responded, Pina sent in a long throw which was only half cleared, Floro's shot went just over. Eze was yellow carded a few moments later, along with Imortal's Thomas Nascimento, after some pushing and shoving. The free kick had gone to Lagoa which, when sent in, caused momentary confusion ended with Inacio diving down to grab the ball from among the crowd. But an offside flag had been raised anyway.

Teams were slow coming out for the second half, which eventually kicked off at 18.08!

Ten minutes in, Baiao gave Imortal the lead with their first and only shot on target. Cabral had another chance taken away when a cross from Rodrigo Silva was deflected just behind him. Silva was another who had a very good game in midfield, along with regulars from last season Nascimento and Pimenta. Not sure about Cabral up front. He is speedy and skilful, but he is a very slight figure who lost the ball far too often and far too easily. A completely new back four on view, in which Dias and Lopes stood out.

The game was end to end, a lot of effort to no avail by both teams. A big chance came Lagoa's way on 78 minutes. Sebastian came up for a corner, his powerful header clipped the crossbar and went safely behind the goal. Lagoa piled on the pressure. Imortal's defence dealt with the threats, not always cleanly but effectively enough. A few subs for Imortal at the end for fresh legs. One of them, Mica Silva, was involved from the off when he spooned a shot over the bar from ten metres out and was then then clattered by Barros, who was punished by a straight red card. No more alarms, the game ended with Imortal just about deserved winners, but they must be better in front of goal.

No game next weekend as Imortal are exempt from the first round of the FA Cup. Next game will be on Sunday 6th September, at home to second placed Sintrense, ko at present listed as 1700hrs / 5pm.

Imortal team : Inacio; Pina, Dias, Floro, Lopes; Nascimento, Baiao, R. Silva, Pimenta; Duarte, Cabral. Subs used : Coelho, M. Silva, Fernandes, Alves.

Match statistics

Free kicks conceded : Imortal 17, Lagoa 14
Offside : Imortal 1, Lagoa 3
Shots on target : Imortal 1, Lagoa 1
Shots off target : Imortal 8, Lagoa 4
Shots blocked : Imortal 3, Lagoa 3
Corners : Imortal 3, Lagoa 9
Yellow cards : Imortal 2, Lagoa 2
Red cards : Lagoa 1