Portugal
Campeonato Nacional U19 II Divisao
Serie D
Friday 1st November 2024
Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58!
Club Sport Maritimo U19 1 F.C. Alverca U19 2, attendance 143
74’ 0-1
85’ 1-1 (pen)
86’ 1-2 (pen)
@ Complexo Desportivo do Club Sport Maritimo, Pitch 2
Rua Campo do Maritimo
Sao Roque
9020-207 Funchal
Madeira
No Admission or Programme.
A short break on the island of Madeira, with the main objective being to see games at the two big clubs here, with this unexpected bonus game here at the training complex of Club Sport Maritimo fitting in with the schedule perfectly. It was a Bank Holiday in Portugal today and I’m not too sure if this had any bearing on the game being played this afternoon or not, as all other matches in this league are tomorrow, or whether it was due to the first team playing on Saturday afternoon and they didn’t want to clash with that, or simply flight schedules?
Anyway, it was little more than a ten minute drive north from our hotel, using the ‘Bolt’ app and costing €7.30 each way for the four mile journey. Far cheaper than getting a hire car and far quicker than getting there by bus, although this would have been easy too, with regular bus options heading within easy reach of the ground. There are two pitches here, which run parallel to each other. There is a grass pitch, nearer to the road, with terracing/concrete seating on two sides and certainly having plenty of charm and character. Then, beyond that, the synthetic pitch, which was hosting today’s game. Behind the goal there is a large multiple storey building that houses the changing rooms and up above a snack bar, with a viewing area, where quite a few watched from. The only accessible spectator area pitch side is along about three quarters of one side, consisting of five rows of concrete steps, with painted lines marking out the ‘seats’, whilst others stood at the back of the top row. The other end looked down over houses and beyond that the North Atlantic Ocean. The perfect backdrop, especially with it being 25 or 26 degrees, even with occasional cloud cover and a gentle wind. Certainly makes a change from what England tends to throw up in November.
The match was a slow burner. Neither side achieved much of note in the first half and the second period followed the same pattern. Too much squealing and rolling about (blatant cheating). It looked almost certain to finish goalless. Then suddenly, with sixteen minutes left, a long ball over the top was finished with an angled shot into the far corner to give Alverca the lead. The remainder of the game was brilliant, as both teams attacked at will. With five minutes left, Maritimo equalised from the penalty spot, but having fought hard to get back in it, they then gave away a penalty within seconds of the restart, which Alverca duly scored from. There were six or seven minutes of stoppage time too, but the visitors managed to hold on for the win. Not a bad start to the weekend…..
