FC Lusitans have claimed the Andorran Premier Division title for the first time in their 13-year history after seeing off UE Sant Juliá 2-1 on a dramatic final day of the season.
Lusitans have won the Andorran title for the first time in their history
FC Lusitans are celebrating their first ever Andorran Premier Division title after beating UE Sant Juliá 2-1 on a dramatic final day of the season.
Formed by Portuguese immigrants in 1999, Lusitans went into the final round of play-off games as the only one of four contenders with matters in their own hands, knowing that a win would suffice to wrap up the championship. Sebastià Bertran opened the scoring for Vicenç Marqués's side ten minutes before the break and Luis Miguel Dos Reis doubled their advantage two minutes after the restart. Although Sebastian Gómez pulled one back for Sant Juliá, it was not enough to deny Lusitans a first title and a place in UEFA Champions League qualifying next term.
FC Santa Coloma, meanwhile, started the day on top of the standings yet knew that Lusitans had a better head-to-head record between the teams. It mattered little in the end, however, as last season's champions ended their encounter with UE Santa Coloma – also holding title hopes – with a scoreless draw.
"It was a very even run-in, but as we were always among the top positions we felt we deserved it in the end," explained Lusitans coach Marqués. "We are a humble club with a great following and we've been in the shadow of other top-flight sides for some time. We made a big step forward this year. Imagining that we will be competing in the UEFA Champions League feels like a dream; it's as if we've won the lottery. We feel privileged."
Too bad Manchester United v Manchester City is not on the final day of the season or you might have seen a result like this. The final standings for FC Lusitanos are 11-7-2 with 48 goals for and 18 goals against. Roughly 1/2 of the 26 man squad for FC Lusitanos are from Portugal.