This Monday, at the end of the 20th round, Casa Pia suffered FC Porto’s first defeat in the League, a 2-1 defeat in Rio Maior, where the home team managed to score twice in the only two situations in the first half and then showed the ability to resist even conceding a goal on the way back from the cabin.
With this result, FC Porto sees the advantage over Sporting reduced to four points (nine for Benfica) before the Dragão derby with the two-time national champions, increasing the tension and temperature of a duel that could relaunch the championship’s accounts.
But how did this slip happen? In the first attack, Casa Pia scored, surprising the championship leader, who had not conceded a goal in the League since December 15th, when they beat Estrela da Amadora (3-1).
During the opening 12 minutes, FC Porto subjected their opponents to constant pressure, sometimes suffocating… The foreshadowing of a goal that only didn’t come because the attack, especially Borja Sainz and Samu, revealed a total inability to complete that dominance, wasting a good couple of occasions, with slips in the mix when facing the goal.
After the goal, Casa Pia returned to its initial form, submitting to the Porto yoke, although without going through moments of particular trouble. At least until the 35th minute, after the “locals” managed to split the 5x4x1 into 3x4x3 to test the famous Porto defensive organization.
In response, Gabri Veiga appeared in the half-moon to force Patrick Sequeira to make the first major intervention. The game was heading towards half-time with a false alarm triggered by Borja Sainz, who had a goal (very) disallowed due to an irregular position.
But the first half had yet another moment of shock for the Porto fans, even after 45 minutes. Following a free kick, Thiago Silva scored in his own goal, setting off the alarms in the Dragão kingdom.
In short, FC Porto took responsibility, invested in the attack, but was betrayed in two moments that no one had predicted, conceding as many goals in 45 minutes, against the third-last team, as in the previous ten games played as visitors.
For Casa Pia, which in this scenario was promoted to 15th in the table, leaving the play-off relegation, a two-goal lead gave hope for a positive outcome, but it was not yet safe. The still fresh draw with the “red bottom” AFS, after leading 3-0, was enough to remind us that the first home victory of the season in the League was not guaranteed.
Especially because ahead was the isolated leader of the race, who returned from the cabins determined to rectify the mistakes of the first half. Pablo Rosario, who had already been prominent at the start of the game, took the baton and reduced the score in the first attack, before the clock reached one minute.
A goal with the direct participation of Alberto Costa, called to replace Martim Fernandes in the second period. The tone was set and Thiago Silva threatened to score from the second slot, narrowly missing redemption.
FC Porto continued to push, but Patrick denied Gabri Veiga the second. Farioli called on Froholdt and William Gomes before risking everything with Pietuszewski and Deniz Gül, which tested Patrick’s reflexes, with the goalkeeper securing the advantage.
The expulsion of William Gomes, for violent conduct, complicated Porto’s mission, but did not alleviate the stranglehold of Casa Pia, who were clinging with all their strength to an unprecedented result at home.
In the end, it was Casa Pia who came closer to 3-1, with a couple of wasted opportunities against an FC Porto team desperately looking for a draw that they were unable to achieve.
