Casa Pia preserve Primeira Liga status after 2-0 victory over Torreense | OneFootball

A goal in each half by Gaizka Larrazabal and Lawrence Ofori gave Casa Pia a 2-0 win over Torreense and ensured the Lisbon minnows remain the top flight for another season.

It was a deserved win for Álvaro Pacheco’s team, who were the stronger side throughout the 90 minutes, Torreense clearly physically diminished by the Portuguese Cup heroics on the weekend.

This season’s relegation/promotion playoff could have been labelled the “homeless” playoff. Casa Pia continue to play their “home” games in Rio Maior, with a crowd of under 2,000 fans in the stadium on Thursday night despite what was at stake.

Torreense themselves will play their Europa League matches in the Algarve next season instead of their own ground in Torres Vedras, and if they had gained promotion, it was not certain that their small stadium would have been approved for Primeira Liga matches.

That decision will no longer have to be made by the Portuguese football authorities as Casa Pia’s victory means the Geese will be playing in the country’s top division for a fifth successive season.

Wonder goal averted by fingertip save

It could have been very different if Javi Vázquez’s sensational shot from inside his own half had gone in. The Spaniard had noticed Casa Pia goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira way off his line and the Costa Rican was forced to backtrack furiously and dive backwards to touch the ball around the post as it was about to drop into the net.

That was as good as it got for the visitors as Casa Pia began to dominate the match and create chances.

André Geraldes tested Torreense goalkeeper Lucas Paes, Jérémy Livolant hit the post, before Dailon Livramento smashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar. The Cape Verdean then missed two glaring chances from headers.

Larrazabal does the business

You sensed a goal was coming for Casa Pia and it duly arrived in the 38th minute when the excellent Larrazabal finished smartly after an excellent pass by Kevin Prieto. The Spaniard has enjoyed a fantastic season, playing both as a right wing-back and a right winger. Out of contract, it would be no surprise if one of Portugal’s bigger clubs signed him.

The second half was a more even affair, with Torreense’s half-time substitute Alejandro Alfaro coming close to an equaliser on three occasions.

Casa Pia scored a crucial second goal in the 78th minute to give them breathing space. Ofori tapped in from close range after excellent work by striker Cassiano to set him up.

Vázquez almost pulled a goal back, his low shot fizzing just wide, but Torreense were out of energy, three crunch games in eight days taking their toll.

“Lack of common sense” – Luís Tralhão

It was difficult not sympathise Torreense coach Luís Tralhão after the match when he said: “There was a lack of common sense by whoever organises the schedule.” His team were forced to play the two legs of the playoff in between the biggest game in the club’s history – the Portuguese Cup final.

As for Casa Pia coach Álvaro Pacheco, the experienced coach said: “both teams deserve to be in the Primeira Liga.”

Casa Pia 2-0 Torreense highlights