 03-12-06, 05:29 PM | #55 (permalink) |
| Used In Squad Rotation Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 366 Thanks: 74 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0 | 
 Table-Conquering Free-Kicks December 2006 Review  vs Portugese Liga de Honra Week 12
A late controversial 3:3 draw as my striker Joao Pedro scores the equalizer in the 94th minute againist Gil Vicente. See earlier entry for more information.
vs  Portugese Liga de Honra Week 13
After the controversial and to some point legendary tie with Gil Vicente we were flying high in confidence when facing Rio Ave in our home stadium.
Despite being picked as one of early season favourites they were struggling big time, lieing in threat of relegation after nearly half of season. I had my own worries though - Pedro Moita's injury againist Gil Vicente was so serios that he has to sit out for a month and considering that he had given 1/3 of the assists this season it was even more tough blow.
It was a tough start though, Rio Ave creating two chances in the opening minutes, but after that the game calming down.
And soon after I got some chances to grab the lead too, the best one, Cleuber header, was cleared off the line by Rio Ave. And the situation didn't change in rest of the first half either.
Not soon after the start of the second half, in 49th minute, it was a home-fans party though. Joao Pedro showed his fabolous skills once again, dribbling past one of the opposing defenders to send it into the low corner, unstopable for the goalkeeper. With that he became the first Leixões player to score three league goals this season as we had like five or six players that had scored two goals.
Despite our opponents rarely having the ball they made our hearts break when they hit the post in 63rd minute, but after we created four chances in nearby ten minutes I was again going to feel more secure.
I thought the game was put beyond doubt after Javier Goncalves headed in a Xavier cross, being left unmarked at the back-post.
But it wasn't like that. Agostinho scored the first and made the second for Laercio as Rio Ave made an amazing pull-back in the 81st and 87th minute, I couldn't believe we were going to have another draw, but...
In the 92nd minute Joao Pedro got pulled down near the area and Hugo Morais became the hero, shooting the kick in to the top near corner, leaving goalkeeper stranded to see his side lose in the final minute and we making yet another late escape. Fans were totally crazy again as this team had been getting into the shape and you could see the players enjoying their time.
 vs Portugese Liga de Honra Week 14
It was an another brilliant opportunity to continue our impressive run of six unbeatten games in the league when we went to mid-table Estoril.
With Pedro Moita still injuried it was otherwise amazing how long our players actually have had basically injury-free period with everyone in full fitness.
Yesterday had been my birthday so it was a extra reason to win the game for us and we certainly started off in style. Playing great Portugese-Dutch mix-up football which was simply fantastic to the eye to watch, espescially when Cristovao's header pulled out a great save from Estoril goalkeeper.
After we showing some great stuff for the first twenty minutes or so Estoril finally woke up and started giving our defence some struggle themselves as it was a wide open match, but everything which was missing was goals.
I was confident of my players abilities at half-time, making no saves, but as I saw Estoril dominating the midfield play and Joao Pedro having a below-par performance I had to make couple of changes with substitutions.
Though it wasn't a substitute scoring in the 76th minute. It was again a free-kick goal for us, Bruno China this time the taker despite Morais being on pitch. China sent the ball to the far post, into the top corner. It was a fantastic goal, with enough power to make goalkeeper in the goal helpless.
Estroil had to try and attack, but their pathetic attempts went either over or wide all the time and the only time when they got the ball on goal Beto made a 93rd minue supersave and closely after that the final whistle went.
With our seventh game unbeatten and second win a row, we are finally in form and once Moita gets back I only imagine how we'll look as Cristovao at the moment replacing him isn't really good.
Leixões In League Table
1. Gil Vicente - 34 points
...
5. Varzim - 22 pts
6. Leixões - 22 pts
7. Feirense - 21 pts |
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