The national team lost 6-5 against France in the second round of the Nations Cup group stage
Dear reader, what a great roller hockey game took place in Montreux, Switzerland, between France and Portugal! The national team entered the pavilion to play the second round of the Nations Cup group stage. The Gauls started on the right foot, taking the lead in the 8th minute, through Carlo Di Benedetto, through a direct free kick, in a move in which João Rodrigues received the first blue card of the match.
The Portuguese response arrived soon after and Gonçalo Alves tied the match, also with a free kick. In the 16th minute, FC Porto’s Portuguese striker was happy again and, with a penalty, made the comeback. At half-time, the advantage belonged to Paulo Freitas’ men.
Right at the start of the second half, France made it 2-2, again through Carlo Di Benedetto, with a direct free kick. In an authentic ‘take it, give it’ Portugal reacted again and, two minutes later (28′), Gonçalo Pinto stole the ball from the French and, over goalkeeper Pedro Chambell, made it 3-2.
Hélder Nunes extended the advantage for the Portuguese team after the 30th minute, with a stick from very far away, without giving the opposing goalkeeper any chance of defense. For the first time in the match, one of the teams had a two-goal lead, however, this did not last more than ten minutes.
The Di Benedetto family was committed to making life difficult for Portugal and, if previously it was Carlo, the 3-4 was due to his brother, Roberto, who, in the 40th minute, reduced the deficit with a shot ‘from the middle of the street’ which caught Ângelo Girão by surprise.
Carlo Di Benedetto was really the executioner of the Portuguese team and it was up to the FC Porto forward to tie the match again and complete the victory. hat trick. With the game tied and morale high, it didn’t take long for the French to turn the score around, this time with a deflection from Marc Rouze.
After suffering the turnaround, Portugal ‘woke up’ and Hélder Nunes shot violently to tie the game again. However, it was already destined that the three points would go to the French.
With 16 seconds left in the match, a bucket of cold water fell on the Portuguese team, which saw the Gauls reach 6-5 and seal the victory. The goal scorer? It could be none other than Carlo Di Benedetto, again with a direct free kick, who, in this way, scored a poker in the match and gave the first 3 points to the French team in this Nations Cup.
The accounts of Group B of the Nations Cup will only be closed in the last round, where Portugal, currently second placed, will face leader Spain (6 points). On equal terms with the national team (3 points), France plays the decisive match against Switzerland.
