Thursday, January 15, 2009

Nacional send Porto out of Taça da Liga

Jesualdo Ferreira's gamble with his many first-team changes to his roster was dealt with sternly as Nacional cast Porto out of with a 2-1 loss.

With tiny Estádio da Madeira blanketed in a thick dense fog it is surprising that Lucílio Baptista did not call the match as unplayable. However after an early efforts by the Dragões the home side took the lead twenty-three minutes in as Ruben Micael poached a goal from point-blank close range after Nuno's save. However the lead didn't last long as Romanian international Cristian Săpunaru leveled the match only thirteen minutes later as he capitalized on a defensive error that provided him the ball just above the box and without delay he sent the ball to the back of the net from the top of the box. After going to the break even with the match conditions horrific, little strategy could be implemented as players were fortunate to see ten meters in front of them. Finally with six minutes remaining Miguel Fidalgo added the winning strike to give the home side the victory.

The decision to allow this match to be played was a horrible decision and Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional needs to review the situation and ensure a decision as such never occurs again.