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By Will Jago, at Estádio da Nora |
Final Score: Portimonense 2 Albion 0
68: MATCH ABANDONED: A mass pitch confrontation involving both sets of players and staff ends with referee Nuno Guerrbeiro and his assistants leaving the pitch, refusing to carry on, and the game is abandoned.
59: GOAL! Another wonder goal from the Portuguese side, as Ivanildo unleashes a ferocious left-footed drive from 20 yards out, giving Albion keeper Mitch Walker no chance.
50: Jumisse's in-swinging free kick from the left is headed back across goal by Ellias, but palmed away by Michael Poke and cleared by Tommy Elphick.
45: Half-time - Portimonense had the better of the chances but with three upfront Albion are looking dangerous in attack, especially when Matt Sparrow breaks from midfield to join in the attack. The moment of class from Pena proved the difference.
44: The home side almost double their lead within minutes after Kadi found himself one-on-one with Michael Poke. The striker took the ball past the Albion keeper, but Tommy Elphick slid in to block a certain goal.
41: GOAL! Portimonense open the scoring with a brilliant goal by the Venezuelan striker Pena. He picked the ball up wide on the left, beat two Albion players with a tricky run, and smashed the ball home low into the bottom left corner.
35: Albion counter-attack quickly through Ashley Barnes, who slides the ball wide to Cristian Baz. The Albion winger cut into the box and beat the defender but his mis-hit shot was comfortably gathered by Pedro Silva, in the Portimonense goal.
29: Portimonense try their luck from distance again, but after cutting inside off the left the Venezuelan striker Pena dragged his shot wide of Michael Poke's right post.
15: Portimonense have a great chance to open the scoring after a long ball finds its way through to Kadi, who tries to lob the ball over Michael Poke. But the Albion keeper does enough to push the ball past his post for a corner.
13: Elliott Bennett makes a great tackle on Pedro Moreira 25 yards out which sets up Cristian Baz - but the Argentinean pulls his left-footed shot wide.
07: Portimonenese have the first chance of the game, all be it a long distant shot. The ball broke to the Brazilian Aragoney 20 yards out, who drilled his shot past Michael Poke's left post.
05: Not much to choose between the two sides during the opening five minutes, with both sets of midfielders battling out for possession.
00: Kick-off - Gus Poyet makes three changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Sunderland on Wednesday, with Adam El-Abd and Argentinean duo Cristian Baz and Agustin Battipiedi in the starting line up. Glenn Murray and Gordon Greer - who are suspended for the opening two games of the League One season - both drop out of the starting eleven with Radostin Kishishev.
Teams
Albion: (4-3-3) Poke (Walker 58), Calderon, El-Abd, Elphick (Greer 58), Painter; Sparrow (Jamie Smith 58), Navarro (Dicker 58), Battipiedi; Bennett (Hart 58), Barnes, Baz (Holroyd 58). Subs not used: Hall, Cook, Kishishev, Murray, Morais.
