Portugal Cup: Alverca-Famalicão, 1-2 (chronic)
Famalicão didn’t make it easy, they went to Alverca with the eleven of the gala and stamped the qualification for the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup, against an Alverca who sold the defeat very dearly. The Ribatejos had an advantage for seventy minutes, with a daring game that surprised Ivo Vieira’s team, but it took the Liga team just over a minute to turn the result and ensure continuity in the premier competition. Closing the game, Banza, the great figure of this game, fell helplessly on the pitch and generated some apprehension in the stadium, but it seems that he has stabilized.
Ivo Vieira cannot send messages to his own team, in anticipation of the game, warning of a possible opponent’s motivation, the long stoppage of the competition and the need for his players to be at high levels of concentration to avoid a possible surprise. The coach himself set the example and repeated exactly the same eleven that, in the last game, had thrashed Boavista in the middle of Estádio do Bessa.
The truth is that Alverca justified all the cautions of Famalicão’s coach, with a very strong entry into the game, with eyes fixed on Luiz Junior’s goal, with a vertical game, with many players shooting out to attack. Right in the first minute, the Ribatejos put the visitors’ defense in an uproar, with many players inside the area and full-back Jorge Bernardo forcing the Famalicão goalkeeper to apply to avoid the first goal.
Playing as equals, without any defensive concerns, Alverca attacked from all sides and put Famalicão to attention. Ricardo Rodrigues, a hurricane on the left, created a second chance, going down the flank to the end line and then crossing late for Klinsmahn’s shot over the trip. Famalicão took a long time to enter the game and even had to move back his block to have more ball and try to control the game.
Pêpê Rodrigues and Charles Pickel ended up putting some order in the game and Famalicão, now with more ball, started to grow, but the truth is that this didn’t make any dent in the uncomfortable opponent who, whenever he won the ball, would fire forward , almost always on the left, by the feet of Ricardo Rodrigues, but also in the center with Felipe Ryan also achieving depth. With Famalicão stabilizing, the first opportunities for Ivo Vieira’s team appeared. Adrián Marín was very close to opening the scoring, with a very strong shot from the left, João Sousa cut over the fatal line, already with José Costa beaten.
When it seemed that Famalicão already had the game under control, Ricardo Rodrigues took off one more time on the left, but this time he didn’t devote the goal line, pulled in, took Digo Figueiras out of the way and, with his right foot, fired for a bow the second post, with no chances for Luiz Junior. A great goal, in the 31st minute, with a perfect execution, which resulted in an explosion in the stands, with the home fans in celebration. It was the fourth goal from the left winger who, so far, has scored in all of the Portugal Cup qualifiers.
Famalicão are looking forward to reacting immediately, moving up like their lines and with Simon Banza’s first shot just past the post. Close to half-time, Pêpê Rodrigues free-kick and Alexandre Penetra’s header over the bar. Alverca arrived at half-time with an intact advantage.
Ivo Vieira abdicated from the Heriberto logo to launch Ivo Rodrigues and Famalicão came in more balanced in the second half, managing to keep the ball longer in Alverca’s midfield and Iván Jaime, in a move identical to Ricardo Rodrigues’ goal, was very close to reaching a draw, just opening it, with an arc shot that was eventually returned by the post. Alverca continued to look for quick transitions, but now with fewer people invading the opposing camp, not least because time was running in their favor.
Somersault and scare to close
And he was running fast, with Famalicão with a growing possession, creating opportunities, but with Alverca increasingly closed. However, Ivo Vieira’s team needed just over a minute to turn the result around. In an opportune pass from Banza, Pedro Brazão stood out behind the Ribatejo defense and, with his left foot, tied the game. Ball in the center, Banza invests on the right and is knocked down by João Sousa in the area. A very contested move by Alverca. In the penalty kick, the striker was still attached to José Costa’s defense, but ended up heading the rebound.
In two periods, the advantage passed from Alverca to Famalicão with twenty minutes to go. Alverca took risks again, moved up their lines, but they had acted facing a much calmer Famalicão, solving all the problems the Ribatejos had posed to them and waiting for an opportunity to kill the tie. Algiers still launched two more forwards for the attack in the last moments of the game, but it was Ivo Rodrigues who came close to ending expectations.
In compensation time, a huge scare after a foul on Simon Banza. The striker was wedged between two opponents, fell over the ribs and had difficulty breathing. There were moments of apprehension, but the striker ended up getting off a stretcher, it seems, already stabilized.
Fair victory by Famalicão who, despite everything, had to apply himself to counter a surprising boldness by Alverca that left a good image in the farewell to the Portuguese Cup. another good game by Banza, this time with an assist and a goal in the turnaround of Fama. In ten games, the forward loaned by Lens has scored ten goals. A phenomenon.