Alves off target for beaten Boro

BORO 0 VITORIA GUIMARAES 1

DESPITE looking the better side on the night, another late goal saw Boro slip to defeat in their second game in three days Faro tonight.

Boro adopted a 4-5-1 formation with Afonso Alves the lone striker while the lively Adam Johnson and Graeme Owens were switching wings.

The better side in the first half, Boro coped well, though there was no real danger for Ross Turnbull who demonstrated good handling.

The two best chances fell to Boro, both to Alves. After a positive run Adam Johnson was brought down a yard from the edge of the penalty area, but the resultant free-kick was despatched a yard over the bar.

Julio Arca was been the subject of two unnecessarily meaty challenges which saw Colin Cooper and Gareth Southgate leap off the bench, otherwise there had been little to excite a crown of around 400, 200 of which are Boro fans.

In his second game at this level Rhys Williams had coped well, but it was been Johnson who has caught the eye and he set up Alves with another chance, but after good approach work the Brazilian was challenged just as he was poised to shoot.

Half-time: Boro 0 Vitoria Guimaraes 0

Again Gareth Southgate made a host of changes during the break with Adam Johnson the only outfield player keeping his place.

And he did so to good effect, constantly causing problems for a side whose only tactic to stop him was to bring him down.

A header from Robert Huth was the closest Boro went to scoring in 90 minutes, the German defender not far off target from a Jonathan Franks free-kick.

Turnbull produced a brilliant tip over to deny Jean Coral whose long-range effort was well struck, Joe Bennett enjoyed another good game and while Marvin Emnes showed a couple of bright touches he didn't get the chance to shine the way he did against Celtic.

Boro were the better of the two sides, but it was yet another late strike which undid them.

Huth was booked for disputing the position of the free-kick which led to Boro's downfall, but there was no disputing the quality of delivery from Dinis which sailed past the helpless Turnbull.

Boro first half: Turnbull; Young, Williams, Wheater, Taylor, Owens, Digard, Walker, Arca, Alves, A Johnson.

Boro second half: Turnbull; McMahon, Huth, Grounds, Bennett, Franks, J Johnson, Shawky, Emnes, Aliadiere, A Johnson (Tuncay 71).

Vitoria Guimaraes: Serginho, Luciano, Sereno, Flavio, Desmarets, Fajardo, Douglas, Danilo, Andrezinho, Joao Alves, Marquinho. (subs to follow)

Conditions: Balmy.

Website Boro Man of Match: 1st half Adam Johnson. 2nd half Joe Bennett.

Its too early to judge new Southgate squad but yet,Southgate need to focus on feeding and finishing.I wish that after this tour,Boro will go back sharp and stronger.Looking foward if Southgate will bring Sorensen to Riverside like what Alves told in his official Website.

Come On Boro!

Ariff Ahmad

Hoops leave it late to deny Boro

BORO 1 CELTIC 1

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink came off the bench to head a stoppage-time equaliser for Celtic in their Algarve Cup opener against Middlesbrough.

The Scottish Premier League champions were heading for defeat in Portugal when Darren O'Dea's underhit backpass gifted Jeremie Aliadiere a bizarre opener 19 minutes from time.

Substitute O'Dea's ill-advised pass to Mark Brown saw the goalkeeper's attempted clearance charged down by Aliadiere, the ball rebounding off the striker's feet and into the net.

But Vennegoor of Hesselink levelled in the second minute of added time when Bobo Balde headed fellow substitute Paul Caddis' cross back across goal and the Dutchman stooped to nod home.

The result saw both sides claim two points apiece, one for the draw and one for scoring a goal. That put them three points behind Cardiff, who beat Vitoria Guimaraes 2-1 earlier in the evening thanks to a double from former Motherwell striker Ross McCormack.

Celtic had chances to score in the first half, Georgios Samaras twice heading too close to Ross Turnbull after fine wing play from Aiden McGeady.

Boro's best moment came from Josh Walker, whose left-foot strike forced a fine save from Brown, while Mohamed Shawky was twice off target from outside the area.

The second half - which featured a raft of substitions - was even more cagey, though Brown did well to get fingertips to an Aliadiere snapshot.

Turnbull was almost caught out by a curling Barry Robson free-kick but he recovered well to parry.

After both sides netted, there was still time for Paul McGowan to nearly strike a winner for Celtic.

BORO (First half): Turnbull; Young, Wheater, Pogatetz (capt), Grounds, Emnes, Walker, Shawky, Arca, Owens, Alves.

BORO (Second half): Turnbull; McMahon, Williams, Huth, Taylor; Walker (Tuncay 74), J Johnson, Digard, O'Neil (capt), A Johnson; Aliadiere.

Celtic: Brown M, Hinkel (Naylor 61), Wilson, Caldwell (Balde 61), McManus (O'Dea 61), Robson (Donati 66), Hartley, Brown S (Vennegoor of Hesselink 66), McGeady, McDonald (Caddis 66), Samaras.

Conditions Warm and humid

Website Boro Man of the Match First half Marvin Emnes, second half Gary O'Neil

Meanwhile in other news

EGYPTIAN forward Mido has not travelled to Portugal with the rest of the Boro squad for the Algarve Cup tournament owing to a problem regarding his visa.

A strong Boro side will take on Bank of Scotland Premier League champions Celtic, and although Mido will not be involved he has stressed that the reasons for his unavailability are out of his hands.

The player has released the following statement:

"I would like Boro supporters to know why I am not in the team for this evening's game in Portugal against Celtic.

"There have been ongoing problems regarding my visa which I hope to have sorted shortly. It could be that the Portuguese Embassy require up to a week to amend this situation, thus preventing my ability to travel to Portugal in the very immediate future." - Mido