Casa Pia finds itself in a tight spot. Fresh off a tough 2-1 defeat in Moreira de Cónegos, manager João Pereira has a lot on his mind. His team faces Estoril this Friday, and the injury list is growing, making his job even harder.
The trouble started even before the Moreirense game. Experienced central defender José Fonte was ruled out with a perforated eardrum. This injury makes him a big question mark for the upcoming match against Estoril as well. Then, during the Moreirense game, Pereira was forced to make two more substitutions due to injury. Goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira and left-back Abdu Conté both had to leave the field, adding to the team’s worries. Their availability for Friday remains uncertain.
Sequeira, the Costa Rican goalkeeper, created a real scare not just for his club, but also for his national team. His home country is just days away from Miguel Herrera announcing his squad for crucial World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Nicaragua. Sequeira felt pain in his right foot late in the first half against Moreirense. He tried to continue but couldn’t, eventually being replaced by Daniel Azevedo in the 53rd minute. With Ricardo Batista also out injured, Sequeira’s quick recovery is a top concern for João Pereira. The keeper has been a vital player since joining the team at Pina Manique.
Before Sequeira’s exit, Abdu Conté also made an unplanned departure. Playing his first game as a starter for Casa Pia, the left-back had a dream start. He made a fantastic run to set up Livolant for a goal in the 8th minute, putting the team ahead. But just three minutes later, in the 11th minute, he had to come off. Pain from an injury to his anterior left thigh forced him out, with Benaissa stepping in. The full extent of his injury is still unknown.
All three players—José Fonte, Patrick Sequeira, and Abdu Conté—will be re-evaluated in the coming days. These assessments will decide if any of them can play against Estoril. João Pereira and his staff are now racing against the clock to get their injured stars fit for the next challenge.