Lank FC and Amora FC played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their relegation play-off for a spot in the 2023-2024 Portuguese Women’s National Championship. The match, held at Vila Verde on May 26, was marked by two disallowed goals for Vietnamese striker Huynh Nhu.
Lank FC took the lead in the 25th minute when Amora’s defense failed to clear the ball, allowing Pamela Dutra to score with a powerful shot from outside the box. However, the lead was short-lived as Ana Carolina Sa’s own goal leveled the score for Amora just five minutes later.
Huynh Nhu, who played a pivotal role throughout the match, had her first goal disallowed in the fourth minute. After a thorough review by VAR, the referee ruled that Dutra was offside before assisting Nhu, nullifying what would have been a brilliant start for Lank FC.
The drama continued in the 85th minute when Huynh Nhu, following a corner kick, received the ball back after a short pass and struck a beautiful long-range shot into the net. However, the referee deemed that the ball had not touched any Lank player before reaching Nhu, resulting in another disallowed goal.
Despite these setbacks, Lank FC dominated the first half with several dangerous attacks. In the 41st minute, Kayla Mingachos’ shot hit the crossbar. Shortly after, Huynh Nhu’s shot went narrowly wide, and Pamela Dutra’s effort was saved by Amora’s goalkeeper, Jamila Marreiros.
The second half saw a balanced and fiercely contested battle, especially in midfield. In the 63rd minute, Huynh Nhu created another chance with a solo run from the wing, but her powerful shot missed the target. Despite continuous pressure, neither team could find the winning goal, and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The second leg of the play-off will take place on June 9, with both teams vying for a spot in the Liga BPI for the 2024-2025 season. In the other play-off match, FC Famalicao secured a commanding 6-1 victory over Vitoria SC, putting them in a strong position to retain their league status.
Lank FC had finished 11th in the Liga BPI, narrowly escaping direct relegation by winning their last two matches. Their performance granted them a play-off spot against Amora FC, who are looking to move up from the lower division.
Huunh Nhu, who has been with Lank FC since the start of the 2022-2023 season, stayed on to help her team in these crucial matches despite her contract having expired. Over her tenure, she played 46 matches, clocking 3000 minutes, with an average of 65.2 minutes per game, scoring ten goals and providing three assists.
Starting Lineups
Lank FC: Luisa Pinheiro, Kayla Mingachos, Laura Marin, Sophia Ferreira, Pamela Dutra, Markela Bejleri, Ana Carolina Sa, Ema Cruz, Natalie Cooke, Huỳnh Như, Maria Ribeiro.
Amora FC: Jamila Marreiros, Marcia Duarte, Letycia Bonifacio, Iris Ferreira, Rita Barreto, Rita Coutinho, Jaime Turrentine, Mafalda Marujo, Carolina Duque, Keisy Silveira, Ireland Lopes.
The stage is set for an intense second leg, with Lank FC determined to secure their place in the top tier of Portuguese women’s football.
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