 Lusitano spent the rest of the 1960s in the Segunda Divisão until relegation to the third tier by the end of the 1969/70 season.A period of several promotions and relegations between the third and second division followed without really contending access back to the top tier.In this period Lusitano were vice-champions of the Third Division in the 1972/73 season, loosing the final to Lourosa (0-1).