Maritimo will host Estrela Amadora in the second leg of the Portuguese Primeira relegation/promotion playoff. The first leg ended in a 2-1 win for Estrela Amadora. The second-division club is just one match away from achieving promotion to the Primeira.
Estrela Amadora have never played in the Primeira and were only created in 2020 thanks to a merger between Clube Desportivo Estrela and Club Sintra Football.
Estrela da Amadora won the first leg of the Promotion/Relegation playoff 2-1 tonight against Marítimo.The second leg is next Sunday. pic.twitter.com/jt8M8iXJkT— Próxima Jornada (@ProximaJornada1) June 3, 2023
Estrela da Amadora won the first leg of the Promotion/Relegation playoff 2-1 tonight against Marítimo.The second leg is next Sunday. pic.twitter.com/jt8M8iXJkT
Since then, Estrela Amadora have been on a fast rise up the football pyramid in Portugal.
Maritimo dominated the first match in terms of possession. But possession is the most dangerous, overestimated state in football.
The Red and Green had 63% possession but tallied just one goal from two shots on target.
Estrela Amadora’s 37% possession somehow created 13 shots with five landing on target.
It didn’t take the Stars long to get on the scoresheet, as Regis N’do scored in the third minute. Maritimo had no idea what hit them.
In the 80th minute, Estrela Amadora doubled their lead, when Jean Felipe scored. Maritimo could have lost 2-0, but the Primeira club found the back of the net with three minutes to play thanks to a goal from Claudio Winck.
Winck’s goal gives Maritimo some hope of turning around the tie. Maritimo have one foot in the second division, however.
Estrela Amadora manager Sergio Vieira has no fresh injuries going into the playoff second leg.
The team is led in goals by Paulinho with seven. Paulinho nor Ronaldo Tavares played the first leg. The duo combined for 16 goals.
N’do joined from Real Betis last summer. He scored just two goals in the regular season but came up big in the first leg with the opening goal. He should start on the right-wing once more.
Gomes will hope his squad can rebound and overcome Estrela Amadora’s one-goal lead. The Maritimo manager has a mostly fit squad going into the second leg.
Forward Felix Correia started as the team’s central striker in the first leg. Correia is on loan from Juventus.
He scored just two goals during the season. Gomes may use Bryan Riascos as the starting centre-forward.
Gomes’ problem is the lack of goals from central striker this season. Riascos only scored three goals.
Maritimo’s biggest goal threat is left-wing Andre Vidigal. He scored eight goals this season but didn’t complete the full 90 minutes in the first leg.
Estrela Amadora should finish the job in the second leg with a 1-0 win away against Maritimo. The victory will send Estrela Amadora into the Primeira for the first time.