Portugal
Liga 2
Saturday November 2nd 2024
Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02
Club Sport Maritimo 1 F.C. Penafiel 2, attendance 7,211
1’ 1-0
31’ 1-1
61’ 1-2
@ Estadio do Maritimo
Rua dos Barreiros
9000-619 Funchal
Madeira
€15 Admission, Print at Home Ticket
No Programme.
Having visited the training complex of Maritimo yesterday for the U19 game, today it was the chance to see the first team, at the Estadio do Maritimo. I’d seen the ground before, during a holiday in 2004, out of football season. Since then the ground has undergone a huge rebuild between 2009 and 2016, including removing the running track from around the pitch. It was originally opened in 1957, when it was known as Campo dos Barreiros and although previously larger, the capacity these days is 10,932 all seated and rather oddly, a couple of the old floodlight pylons remain in place. It has been home to all three of the Madeira teams to have played in the Portuguese League at one stage (CD Nacional 1957- 1998 and Uniao 1957- 2008 and again from 2011-2012) but is now solely used by Maritimo and occasionally by Portugal for international matches.
Tickets were easily booked online, although it would have been no problem purchasing them at the stadium prior to kick off. There were plenty of empty seats and although the official attendance was given as 7,211 I’d be surprised if there were more than 6,000 actually present. There was certainly plenty of room in the away section, where I only counted 26 fans! No need for a taxi for this one as it was no more than 15 minutes walk from our hotel. The only problem was that it was uphill all the way. In fact, most things in Funchal involve walking uphill. There were a couple of mobile food and drink stalls outside, which were very busy. Once inside the ground the refreshments were just the usual snacks and very bland looking sandwiches, so best to eat before heading in.
The match was 5th versus 2nd in the league table, with Penafiel having been top until last weekends defeat at home to Academico Viseu. Many spectators hadn’t even got to their seats before Maritimo opened the scoring after just 37 seconds, when a cut back from the right was touched in at the near post by Carlos Daniel. Penafiel levelled just after the half hour mark, when Reko headed in from 6 yards, having been unmarked at a corner. Just after the hour mark a ball in from the right was curled into the far corner by Robinho, in what turned out to be the winner. Maritimo did have a header cleared off the line minutes later, but Penafiel hung on for the three points, aided by the usual time wasting/cheating and rolling about at every opportunity, which is something that is all too common in Portuguese football. They certainly won’t be bothered though, as they go back to the top of the table for at least the next two days, as this mornings leaders Tondela don’t play until Monday night.
Even with eight minutes of stoppage time, we were finished just after 4 o’clock, so ample time to make a gentle stroll back down to the hotel before heading out to eat and then sampling a game in the local regional league this evening….
Above and below photos show the former ticket booth now partially demolished.
