08/05/2011
Grinder
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Overwhelming, at their own image, FC Porto Vitalis tallied, in Águas Santas, the team’s third consecutive as well as 16th title of much-desirable history. Over the penultimate round, with consecration at the reach a victory (29-33), the Dragons were relentless for the umpteenth time, with unquestioned supremacy that allowed them to celebrate long before the final whistle.
The combination of an almost impenetrable, agile and compact defence, as well as the tendency to make the most of all counter-attacking movements, exploiting the agility of the two outside defenders, the Dragons got underway with 4-0, that neither the exclusion of Inácio Carmo interrupted.
The three-time championship win clearly seemed guaranteed within the first few mi nutes, a taste of what was yet to come, and the lead increased to an eight-goal difference (11-19), a valid reflection of the blue-and-white domination, especially highlighted by Dario Andrade’s ultimate effort who, more than anyone, won the right to rest by attaining eight goals.
In an anticipated reaction, Águas Santas wanted to get back into the game, managing to shorten distances, which Ljubomir Obradovic controlled, preserving a safe lead that never decreased to less than four goals amid some fluctuation of the result and the introduction of lesser used players.
Even with three minutes left to play, the title was now definitely in the bag, and the party that had begun in the stands, reached the FC Porto bench, with a variety of choreography, unable to shake the FC Porto coach, attentive and intervening at all times, focused on what was happening inside the field.
Although predictable and anticipated in the ongoing celebrations, the end of the game only served to intensify songs and festivities, w hich not even the pavilion’s sound system was able to silence. The Dragons are three-time consecutive champions.
MATCH REPORT
Handball 1, final phase, 8th round
7 May 2011
AA Águas Santas Pavillion, Maia
Attendance: 1.100 spectators
Referees: Flávio Carvalho and João Malhado
ÁGUAS SANTAS: António Campos (gk.), Jorge Sousa (5), Eduardo Salgado (2), Eduardo Ferreira (1), Juan Couto (0), Marco Sousa (4) and Joel Rodrigues (4)
Also played: Jorge Carvalho «cap.» (3), Pedro Cruz (9), Nuno Pimenta (1), Vasco Nogueira (0)
Coach: Jorge Borges
FC PORTO VITALIS: Hugo Laurentino (gk.), Ricardo Moreira (4), Filipe Mota (0), Inácio Carmo (7), Tiago Rocha (3), Nuno Grilo (4) and Dario Andrade (8)
Also played: Alfredo Quintana (gk.), Gilberto Duarte (1), Pedro Spínola (2), Elias Nogueira (0), Wilson Davyes (4)
Coach: Lujbomir Obradovic
At half-time: 11-19
Scoring: 3-8 (10m), 7-15 (20m), 11-19 (30m), 18-24 (40m), 23-29 (50m) and 29-33 (60m) |
