Relegation battles: Reggie Cannon's Boavista rescued in dramatic ending
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, May 20, 2021
Cannon went the distance for Boavista, which finished 12th in the 18-team Liga NOS, jumping three places with the win.
Oficialmente aberta a
— Boavista FC (@boavistaoficial) May 19, 2021
Na hora da verdade, o GRUPO disse PRESENTE! Um abraço enorme do balneário para todo o universo BOAVISTA!#BoavistaFC #LigaNOS #GVFCBFC pic.twitter.com/V1IXBEfup3
It entered the final day of the season in 15th place, two points ahead of Rio Ave in 16th place, after its 1-0 win at Portimonense on Saturday. The bottom two teams in the Liga NOS are relegated, but it introduced a promotion-relegation playoff series this season involving the 16th-place finisher and the 3rd-place finisher in the second-tier Liga Portugal 2.
The Black Panthers trailed 1-0 at the half, and after former Houston Dynamo star Alberth Elis set up Gambian Yusupha Njie for the equalizer they looked to be in danger of falling behind a second time. French World Cup champion Adil Rami committed a foul for a second Gil Vicente penalty in the 72nd minute, but Samuel Lino, who had converted the first penalty, hit the post on his second attempt.
Njie wrapped things up for Boavista with a successful penalty kick in the 88th minute for the 2-1 win.
Boavista, the only team other than Porto, Benfica or Sporting to win the Portuguese title in the last 75 years, would have been forced into the promotion-relegation playoffs if it had lost. Rio Ave rallied for a 2-1 win of its own at Nacional but still finished in 16th place.
Cannon started 30 of 34 games for Boavista. CBSSports.com reported that the FC Dallas product could be headed to Serie A next season. A move to French club Lille appears to be off following Boavista owner Gerard Lopez's sale of financially troubled Ligue 1 leader this winter.
Paul, you are technically correct:)
Belenenses also won 1time exactly, 75 years ago.