The final whistle blew, and Santa Clara had done it. They clinched their spot in the third pre-qualifying round of the Conference League. A solid 2-0 victory over Varazdin secured the team’s advance. Coach Vasco Matos watched his squad celebrate, knowing their hard work had paid off.
One key player in this success was Gabriel Silva. He marked a special milestone, playing his 100th game for Santa Clara. Even better, he scored a crucial goal. After the match, Gabriel spoke to Sport TV, expressing his satisfaction. “It was a tough game,” he admitted, “but we pushed ourselves to get the win.”
Gabriel Silva highlighted the team’s fighting spirit. “We are a determined team, full of grit,” he explained. “Every day we aim to get better. We always want to give our best.” He added, looking ahead, “We need to stay humble and keep working. God knows everything.” His words painted a clear picture of Santa Clara’s steady approach.
The first goal of the night came from Vinícius Lopes. His strike opened the scoring, but the story behind it was quite memorable. Vinícius described the moment with raw emotion. “I took the shot,” he recalled, “and when I saw the goalkeeper block it, I thought, ‘damn!’” Then, a twist of fate. “But then I saw Gabriel standing alone,” Vinícius continued, “and I was just thankful my shot went wide.” His missed shot turned into a perfect assist for Gabriel Silva, setting up the opening goal and a night of celebration.
