The Portuguese futsal team does not tire of winning and joined the inaugural edition of the Finalissima this Sunday for the European Championship and the World title, all after beating Spain, this time on penalties.
After the 1-1 in regular time, with goals by Miguel Mellado, on 19, for Spain, and Afonso Jesus, on 28, for Portugal, and a scoreless extra time, goalkeeper Edu was Jorge Braz’s ‘joker’ for penalties, blocked two shots and offered the Portuguese another trophy, who missed none of the four shots.
The Spanish counterpart was seen as a ‘malapapata’ for the ‘quinas’ team, but the story has been different in recent years, with Portugal, always in an epic way, beating the ‘neighbours’ in decisive moments: 3-2 ( in extra time) in the 2018 European Championship final, 4-2 (also in extra time) in the 2021 World Cup ‘quarters’ and 3-2 in the 2022 European Championship ‘semi’. All of these events ended with the Portuguese conquest.
With the two teams very close in the first minutes of the game, in mutual study and with caution, despite knowing each other quite well, the game ‘dragged’ on without much risk of danger, the first being a shot from André Coelho (06) .
André Sousa, on the Portuguese side, and Jesús Herrero, for the Castilians, blocked anything that could reach both goals, with the Portuguese coming up in defense at 15 with his feet, and the Spaniard reacting with a good play on a Zicky header Te (16).
About a minute before halftime, coach Fede Vidal asked for a technical break and worked out a studied move for the corner they had at their disposal, which his pupils executed perfectly: Miguel Mellado appeared in the center of the Portuguese and scored the first goal of the game and took full advantage of Antonio Pérez’s kick.
The restart seemed to bring the same tune, but a big mistake by the Spaniards gave Portugal a chance to tie the score, with the ball going to Afonso Jesus, who took advantage of Didac Plana’s poor positioning – Jesús Herrero surrendered at halftime – – and ‘plucked’ over the keeper, at 28, galvanizing the Portuguese athletes.
In the next minute Hugo Neves shot over close to the goal line, missing a sovereign chance to complete the comeback, which Zicky Té also attempted at 33 years old with a powerful shot, for a fantastic save by Didac Plana, instinctively.
Spain had notoriously struggled to counter the massive pressure the Portuguese began to exert after the draw, but when they got close to goal they ‘bumped’ André Sousa, who saved three shots in a row at the age of 31. .
With Portugal in the lead – and with plenty of support from the Argentine crowd – the game went into extra time, played at a high intensity and both teams looking for a goal that could condemn the decision, which didn’t happen, rising to penalties .
In the tiebreak through the penalty area, Jorge Braz bet on Edu in the ‘quinas’ team’s goal and the decision proved to be the right one, with the goalkeeper being the ‘hero’ of the Finalissima, stopping two kicks and deliver new conquest to Portugal.
Source: DN
