A point in the bag; Still bottom...

A point in the bag; Still bottom...

Date: 16-2-2004
Wrote: EP's reporter Islam Issa

Estrela da Amadora were in big need of points before the game, in order to be able to get out of the relegation zone. To get the points, the manager started Abdelsatar Sabry again, and he proved to have a good impact on the game. However, the game between Amadora and Vicente ended in a 1-1 draw, with Sabry's team almost winning.

Sabry in action for Amadora

Estrela line-up: Veiga, Rui Neves, Paulo Madeira, Marcos, Wesnalton, Pedro Simoes, Juba, Litera, Sabry, Semedo and Julio César.

Substitutes: Filipe Mendes, Hugo Carreira, Miran, Davide, Rogério, Ibraima and Alex Garcia.

The first half was one of the best Estrela da Amadora have played all season. Sabry who started was involved and constantly amidst the action.

It took just ten minutes for Amadora to score against Gil Vicente. The home team scored just their fourteenth goal of the season. The score was made 1-0 by Pedro Simoes, and Sabry helped in the making. Sabry and Julio Cesar worked very well in bringing the ball forward on the right wing, and a cross was then made into the area. Juba left it for Peter Simoes, and the midfielder blasted into the net. 1-0!

Less than ten minutes later, it was nearly 2-0. Julio Cesar received the ball and passed to Abdelsatar Sabry, who entered the area and attempted to shoot. The ball came to Juba, who hit it wide.

The Egyptian magician wanted to score a classic in the 36th minute. He spotted the opposing keeper out and lobbed, the confused keeper stopped it out. Not so long after that, Sabry tested the Vicente goalkeeper again but he came out and stopped the ball. This meant at half time it was 1-0 to Estrela da Amadora.

The first chance after the interval was the equaliser! Ferreira advanced on the right for Vicente, and the chance ended in Mauro slotting the ball home to make it 1-1.

After this Vicente looked sharper, but Luis Coentrao was booked twice in two minutes after a bad foul on Juba. This meant Sabry's team had a man advantage. The game was getting very hot, and too many stops were forced due to the fouling, and shortly after the sending off of Coentrao, Sabry received a card of his own.

With the game going both ways, Sabry tried to help Estrela snatch a winner. On 76 minutes, he beat a man on the left and crossed in for substitute Davide, but despite jumping high doesn't succeed in heading at goal. Some more attacks came, one from Alex, but they didn't beat the keeper. Final score:1-1.

Estrela da Amadora were most likely disappointed that their good first half didn't see more goals, and that they drew eventually despite having a one man advantage in the second half.

Bottom of league:

13th: P.Ferreira- 20 points
14th: Belenenses- 20 points (game in hand)
15th: Alverca- 19 points (game in hand)
16th: Academica- 19 points
17th: V.Guimaraes- 17 points (game in hand)
18th: E.Amadora- 12 points

Despite a better performance from Estrela, they are still bottom and in serious trouble.

More here on EP soon...

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