In a captivating clash that unfolded on a crisp Sunday afternoon, Leixões SC emerged victorious in a thrilling 3-2 encounter against northern rivals FC Penafiel. This hard-fought win not only secured crucial points for Leixões but also propelled them directly to the summit of the Liga Portugal 2 Meu Super, sharing the top spot with FC Vizela.
The atmosphere was charged from the whistle, as is customary for a derby of this magnitude. Leixões, playing on home turf, seemed to feed off the energy, quickly establishing a dominant rhythm. Their efforts bore fruit in the 20th minute when captain Ricardo Valente, showcasing a striker`s instinct, found himself perfectly positioned to pounce. Following a speculative shot from Lourenço that deflected off the Penafiel defence, Valente was presented with an open invitation, which he duly accepted, firing home to open the scoring.
Valente, clearly in a prolific vein of form, wasn`t content with just one. His second arrived just seven minutes later, solidifying Leixões`s early advantage. A well-delivered corner kick from Salvador Agra found the prolific number 91, who powered a header past the Penafiel goalkeeper, bagging his third goal of the season and putting Leixões firmly in control with a two-goal cushion.
The second half saw Leixões continue their assertive play, and the hosts extended their lead further through a beautifully crafted team goal that highlighted the depth of their squad. A trio of substitutes combined to devastating effect: Benjamin initiated the move with a precise pass to Yahaya Abdoulaye, who then delivered a pinpoint cross into the penalty area. There, Moshood demonstrated composure and skill, taking two decisive touches before slotting the ball home for what seemed like a commanding 3-0 lead. At this point, victory appeared all but sealed, perhaps prompting a collective sigh of relief from the home crowd and a quiet sense of resignation from the visitors.
However, football often reserves its most dramatic twists for the dying minutes. FC Penafiel, despite being three goals down and with the clock ticking relentlessly, refused to capitulate. Displaying commendable resolve, they launched a spirited late comeback that threatened to unravel Leixões`s comfortable lead. In the 85th minute, Reko converted a penalty, injecting a flicker of hope into the Penafiel camp. Just two minutes later, Suker added another goal, suddenly narrowing the deficit to a precarious single goal. The late double strike sent a jolt of anxiety through the home supporters and transformed the final moments into a nail-biting spectacle.
Ultimately, Leixões SC held firm against the late onslaught, demonstrating their resilience to secure the 3-2 victory. While the two late goals from Penafiel provided a thrilling, albeit tense, conclusion, they were not enough to deny Leixões their deserved points. The win sees Leixões SC drawing level with FC Vizela at the top of the Liga Portugal 2 Meu Super table with seven points, a testament to their strong start to the season. Meanwhile, FC Penafiel, with just one point from their outings, will undoubtedly be reflecting on what might have been, particularly their late resurgence which, regrettably for them, came just a little too late. The derby proved once again that in football, a game is never truly over until the final whistle, a lesson both teams learned in their own distinct ways.
