Heartache for Safawi
No winning start for Malaysian striker in Portugal
KUALA LUMPUR: National football striker Safawi Rasid made his maiden debut with Portimonense SC but it did not end with a good outing.
He played from the start to end with the Portuguese Under-23 side but the team lost 1-3 to Sporting Lisbon in the league at the Dois Irmaos Stadium in Portimao, Portugal, on Friday.
The 23-year-old, who is on loan from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), was included in the starting line-up by team manager Paulo Sergio.
Brazilian Romulo Machado put the home side in the 18th minute with a header via a corner-kick, but Sporting Lisbon Under-23 side replied via Rafael Fernandes’ header 10 minutes later.
Sporting Lisbon went to clinch their second win of the season after Duarte Carvalho and Nicolai Skoglund scored in the 61st and 63rd minute, respectively.
The results, however, did not affect both teams’ position in Liga Revelacao (south zone) standings.
Sporting Lisbon are still in third place with six points after five matches (two victory and three defeats), while Portimonense remained seventh out of eight teams with three points after four matches (one win and three defeats).
Estoril and Benfica still occupy the top two spot in the standings with 10 points and eight points, respectively after four matches.