Sometimes, football games unfold like a slow burn, then explode with late drama. That’s exactly what happened on Saturday. Chaves, a team from the second division, found their way past third-tier Paredes. They won 2-0, securing their spot in the third round of the Portuguese Cup. Both goals arrived in the final minutes, turning a tight match into a clear victory.
The first goal, a direct free-kick from Carraça, hit the net at the 82-minute mark. Then, deep into injury time, at 90’+6, Ktatau finished a swift counter-attack. That second goal, started on the right and moved across the field, sealed the deal. It put an end to Paredes’ dreams of a cup upset.
Chaves began the game looking sharp, even with only four regular starters on the field. They dominated the first fifteen minutes. Henrique Pereira tested the Paredes goalkeeper early with a shot that needed two attempts to control. Paredes soon settled down and found their rhythm. However, their keeper, Tiago Gonçalves, nearly caused trouble when his pass was intercepted by Henrique Pereira. This gave the Chaves winger a clear scoring chance, but he missed the target.
At 50 minutes, Reinaldo of Chaves sent a shot high over the bar. This moment seemed to spark a change. Paredes shed their cautious approach. They pushed higher up the field, played more aggressively, and started winning the ball back faster. Suddenly, Chaves found it tough. They struggled to get out of their own half. The pressure from Paredes forced them to defend hard, something they hadn’t needed to do earlier.
Paredes was on top, creating chances. Then, against the run of play, Chaves earned a free-kick. It was straight in front of Tiago Gonçalves’ goal, a distance that seemed safe. But Carraça stepped up. He unleashed a powerful, well-placed shot that flew into the net. Goalkeeper Tiago Gonçalves might have been a bit too confident, but Carraça believed he could score. Chaves was suddenly ahead, 1-0.
Trailing by a goal, Paredes threw caution to the wind. They moved everyone forward, seeking an equalizer. Chaves found themselves under heavy attack. They tried to pack their defense, which only allowed Paredes to advance their lines and get closer to Marko’s goal. Erik Santana fired a dangerous shot at 88 minutes. Chaves endured the late assault. But they still had enough energy for one final push. A counter-attack down the right side, a pass across to Ktatau, and a cross-shot later, the score was 2-0. This final goal secured their qualification.
Match Sheet
- Game played at Estádio Municipal das Laranjeiras, in Paredes.
- Paredes 0-2 Chaves.
- Half-time: 0-0.
- Goal Scorers:
- 0-1, Carraça, 82 minutes.
- 0-2, Ktatau, 90’+6.
- Teams:
- – Paredes: Tiago Gonçalves, Pedro Araújo, Denis Duarte, Matheus Brito, Diogo Outeiro, Pedro Ferreira (Balelo, 86′), David Veiga (Ivo Lemos, 46′), André Soares (Miguel Moreno, 58′), Bubba Katty (Duarte Carvalho, 58′), Valter Zacarias (Yuk Jinyoung, 67′) and Erik Santana.
- (Substitutes: Fábio Matos, Rui Pacheco, Vasco Rocha, Ivo Lemos, Duarte Carvalho, Miguel Moreno, Yuk Jinyoung, Rúben Fonseca and Balelo).
- Coach: Ricardo José Monteiro (Tarantini).
- – Chaves: Marko, Zach, Bruno Rodrigues, Tiago Simões, Carraça, Pedro Pinho (Pelágio, 67′, Tiago Almeida, 70′), João Teixeira (Ktatau, 67′), Kiko (Kusso, 77′), Henrique Pereira, Reinaldo (Robyn, 77′) and Uros Milovanovic.
- (Substitutes: Vozinha, Tiago Almeida, Pelágio, Ktatau, Wellington, Robyn, Kusso, Roberto and João Pedro).
- Coach: Filipe Martins.
- Referee: David Silva (AF Porto).
- Disciplinary Action: Yellow cards for Pedro Pinho (16′), Pedro Ferreira (18′) David Veiga (45′), André Soares (45’+2), Kiko (69′), Erik Santana (81′) and Robyn (90’+3).
- Attendance: Around 1,500 spectators.