A coach often measures success not just by the scoreboard, but by the discipline shown. Vasco Matos, the leader for Santa Clara, recently saw his team dominate Larne FC with a 3-0 victory. This happened in the third qualifying round of the Conference League. Despite the big win on the road, Matos was quick to keep things in perspective. He made sure to warn his players. “We cannot make it easy,” he stressed, reminding everyone the job wasn’t fully done.
His team showed real focus from the start. They played the first half exactly as planned. Everything they had practiced came through. After halftime, Santa Clara kept moving the ball well. They created more scoring chances. Matos even felt they could have added another goal or two. “We leave Ireland with a very positive outcome,” he admitted after the match. Still, he hammered home the important point. “This tie is not over. We have one more game, and we must take it seriously.”
Perhaps the upcoming Sunday match against Famalicão played a part. Matos hinted that thoughts of that important league game might have softened their second-half edge. Beyond the tactical talk, the coach also offered a moment of quiet reflection. He sent his deepest sympathies to the family of Jorge Costa. This tribute extended to FC Porto and its supporters, recognizing a loss felt by many.
