União da Madeira relegated
Tiny Tondela last night achieved what seemed impossible for most of the season. The 2-0 victory at home to Académica saw the club with a stadium capacity of 3,400 move out of the relegation zone for the first time since early November - on the very last round of the season.
That the minnows reached the top flight at all is a remarkable tale, given that they were playing amateur district league football a decade ago. And when they won just three times in the Liga until the start of April a drop straight back down to the 2nd division looked inevitable.
But a shock 1-0 win away at FC Porto on 4 April injected the club with new belief, and 5 wins, 1 draw and just one defeat in their last 7 games saw the team from the inland Viseu region of Portugal pip União da Madeira to secure their top-flight status for another year.
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Tondela's survival will also enhance coach Petit's reputation as a miracle worker. The former Portugal international had already surprised many last season by keeping Boavista in the top flight. The Porto club had been reinstated into the Liga NOS, jumping two divisions in the process, after appealing their forced demotion in 2008 in the wake of the Apito Final scandal.
Petit was appointed Tondela coach in December after surprisingly walking out on Boavista, citing personal reasons. It looked like an ill-advised move from the professional point of view, but yesterday's events will only solidify Petit's coaching reputation.
Goals in each half from João Pica and Luís Alberto gave Tondela a 2-0 win over already relegated Académica, and União da Madeira's 2-1 defeat at home to Rio Ave saw the islanders, who were also promoted last season, drop back down to the Liga II.
Rio Ave's win proved enough for Carlos Brito's team to claim the final Europa League place.
Qualified for Champions League:
Benfica, Sporting, FC Porto
Qualified for Europa League:
Braga, Arouca, Rio Ave
Relegated:
Académica, Uinão da Madeira
by Tom Kundert
