The air around the Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril hung heavy with anticipation. Penafiel had been waiting for this moment. On Saturday, they finally claimed their first official victory of the season, a hard-fought 2-0 win against Felgueiras in the 2nd League. The game, a true test of grit, only truly ignited in the second half.
This much-needed triumph had a distinct Iberian flavor. Spanish players Alvaro Santos and Davo scored the decisive goals, at 66 and 90 minutes respectively. Their compatriot, goalkeeper Joan Femenías, was once again a rock, making several crucial saves throughout the match. His sharp interventions kept Penafiel in the game when things looked tough.
This important win gave Penafiel some breathing room. They climbed to 15th place with five points, stepping away from the relegation spots for now. Felgueiras, who hadn’t tasted defeat since the second matchday back in August, remain in 11th place with seven points.
Penafiel introduced a new coaching staff for this match. The team also rolled out a new five-man defense. Still, these changes didn’t immediately show clear improvements in the first half. Both teams shared possession and chances in an evenly matched opening period.
Alvaro Santos tried his luck early, breaking through the Felgueiras defense after just five minutes. His shot forced a good save from Cristiano. Felgueiras quickly responded, coming even closer to scoring through Mathys.
Felgueiras looked more stable on the pitch. Their organized play and fluid passing almost led to a goal in the 28th minute. Léo Teixeira fired a shot, but Femenías stood tall, denying them the opener. Penafiel’s only real threat came from a set piece. Captain João Miguel headed the ball against the post in the 36th minute.
The visitors started the second half stronger. Again, Femenías was called into action twice, heroically stopping their attempts. Yet, it was Penafiel who broke the deadlock. Following a free-kick from the side, Alvaro Santos pounced on a loose ball, finally finding the net in the 66th minute.
Felgueiras then pushed hard for an equalizer, taking more risks. This opened up spaces at the back. Penafiel seized this chance, launching a quick counter-attack. Davo showed a touch of class, scoring in the 90th minute to seal the victory and put the game beyond doubt.
Match Details
The game took place at the Estádio Municipal 25 de Abril, in Penafiel.
Final Score: Penafiel 2 – Felgueiras 0.
Half-time Score: 0-0.
Goal Scorers:
- 1-0, Alvaro Santos, 66 minutes.
- 2-0, Davo, 90 minutes.
Teams:
Penafiel:
Joan Femenías, Jaime Sánchez (Francisco Ferreira, 46), João Miguel, Cláudio Silva, Gonçalo Negrão (Davo, 58), Reko, Pedro Sá (Ibrahima Kébé, 72), Bruno Pereira, Rúben Alves (Teddy Alloh, 71), Raúl Alcaina (Joseph Séry, 82) and Álvaro Santos.
(Substitutes: Miguel Oliveira, Francisco Ferreira, Gustavo Fernandes, Teddy Alloh, Ibrahima Kébé, Pedro Vieira, Joseph Séry, Davo and Jota Silva.)
Coach: Márcio Vieira.
Felgueiras:
Cristiano Figueiredo, António Eirô (Jean Felipe, 70), Mário Júnior, Afonso Silva, Pedro Rosas, Henrique Martins (Dário, 90+1), Gabi Pereira (Michel Costa, 70), Vasco Moreira, Mathys Jean-Marie, Lucas Duarte (Mario Rivas, 62) and Léo Teixeira (Feliz, 62).
(Substitutes: Felipe Scheibig, Jean Felipe, Dudu Cruz, Dário, Michel Costa, Faissal, Berna, Feliz and Mario Rivas).
Coach: Agostinho Bento.
Referee:
Diogo Araújo (AF Porto).
Disciplinary Action:
Yellow cards: Jaime Sánchez (02), Gabi Pereira (04), Afonso Silva (36), Álvaro Santos (39), António Eirô (65), Reko (78) and Ibrahima Kébé (90+4).
Attendance:
981 spectators.