Portugal

Primeira Liga

Saturday 4th March 2023

Kick Off 15.30 On Time!

Grupo Desportivo Estoril Praia 0 F.C. Vizela 3, attendance 1,815

15’ 0-1

42’ 0-2

83’ 0-3

@ Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota

Rua Dom Bosco

2765-437 Estoril

€18 Admission

No Programme.

The walk up from Monte-Estoril station to the ground took about twenty minutes, not helped by being uphill all the way. At least on arrival the ticket office is at the near end of the stadium. Only the two sides of the ground are used, so although capacity is listed as 8,015, there are far fewer seats actually available, not that getting in here would be a problem for most games. The changing rooms/club buildings are at the one end, whilst the other goal end is draped in adverts and probably only used when one of the big clubs visit. We opted for seats in the main stand, which is the only part of the stadium that is covered.

The match was 15th versus 12th in the league table. It is easy to see why Estoril are hovering just above the relegation zone. They never looked capable of getting anything from this and it was very comfortable for the visitors. They opened the scoring after fifteen minutes, finishing from close range, after a pass across the six yard box was deflected and fell perfectly for the striker to fire home. The second goal came three minutes before halftime, breaking quickly after defending a corner and as the ball was played into the box it was diverted into the net by a home defender trying to cut out the cross. It could have been worse for the hosts, but Vizela only managed to add a third goal seven minutes from time. A one-two saw the striker played clear and he cut inside before smashing the ball across the ‘keeper into the far corner.

The walk back down the hill to Alcântara-Mar station was much easier than it had been on the way up! The fare back to Cais do Sodre station cost €2.45 and took around 35 minutes, before a short walk back into the centre of Lisbon.

Portugal

Liga 2

Saturday 4th March 2023

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.02

Sport Lisboa Benfica 0 Uniao Desportiva Vilafranquense 2, attendance 347

75’ 0-1

86’ 0-2

@ Benfica Campus Pitch 1

Rua Sport Lisboa e Benfica

2840-600 Seixal

€5 Admission

No Programme.

This morning’s trip was made by taking the metro system to Cais do Sodre, before catching the ferry south across the River Tagus to Seixal. The crossing time is 20 minutes and costs €2.45 and once there it was a ten minute walk up to the Benfica Campus, with the game being played on the main stadium pitch, which has an all seated capacity of 2,720. Tickets are purchased from the ticket booth at the entrance.

The match was 13th versus 5th in the league table and was pretty low key. The only real chance of the first half saw Benfica miss a one on one chance that the ‘keeper saved with his legs. The second half opened up a little and the longer it went on, the more likely the visitors looked like they might nick it. They finally made the breakthrough with fifteen minutes left, cutting in from the right, before curling a left footed shot into the far corner from 25 yards. They deservedly doubled their lead with four minutes left, finishing left footed off the inside of the far post from the angle of the 18 yard box, after a ricochet fell perfectly for the striker.

I intended to do another match this afternoon. Unfortunately the return ferry times on a Saturday are not great, as they are only two hourly and were at 13.00 or 15.00. There was no way of making the one o’clock one, without missing the end of the match (it didn’t bother the 5 German hoppers present, who had already left the match before the second goal was scored) and the 3 o’clock crossing would be too late. An Uber was pre-booked instead, picking up at the ticket office, where it cost €18 (including toll) taking us back across the river to Alcântara-Mar, from where we caught the train (€1.95) westward to Monte Estoril, arriving 70 minutes before kick off for what would be game two of the day.