In the last game of the Group Stage, the national team, forced to beat the Spanish to reach the semi-finals, did the trick and won 4-2. The two goal difference guaranteed Portugal first place in the group, which tomorrow will face Italy, second in Group A, at 8:30 pm.
The game started intensely with Portugal entering with speed and working short attacks in order to quickly reach the Spanish goal. The same happened with Spain who, managing to be more pragmatic, opened the scoring through a triangulated play, finished by Aragonês at the far post for 0-1, in the 22nd minute.
The national team focused on individual initiatives, however, some anxiety on the rink prevented effectiveness and possession of the ball. Spain seemed more comfortable in the game, but in the 12th minute, Aragonês’ foul on Rafa earned the Spanish player a blue card and a direct free kick in favor of Portugal. From the kick, Gonçalo Alves “fired a shot” into Grau’s goal and tied the match (1-1).
Gonçalo Alves scored two goals from set pieces | ©Catarina Maria | FPP
With Portugal continuing to press, a minute after the equalizer, another blue this time for Marti Casas for a foul on Xavi Cardoso and, once again, Gonçalo Alves shot straight and made it 2-1.
Losing, Spain created several dangerous situations in the Portuguese area, but Girão proved irreproachable and denied the goal. By winning, Portugal showed that they wanted more and, with two and a half minutes left before the break, Hélder Nunes, with a curled shot, scored 3-1, resulting in the teams going to rest.
The corner team had the opportunity to expand in the 16th minute with the 10th Spanish free kick, but this time Gonçalo Alves shot at the post. All the Spanish pressure ended up bearing fruit when, in the 9th minute, they managed to reduce it through David Torres (3-2). In the next minute, Portugal’s 10th foul was awarded, but Girão was crucial, defending the free kick and holding on to the advantage.
The final moments were difficult for the team, with Spain giving their all and playing 5 x 4. Portugal knew how to take advantage and, 30 seconds before the whistle, Xavi Cardoso made the final score 4-2.
Xavi Cardoso closed the account of the night with the national team’s fourth goal | ©Catarina Maria | FPP
At the end of the match, Xavi Cardoso highlighted that the team managed to «control the score, which is very important in hockey» and made a point of «congratulating all the attitude» of the Portuguese team. The number 39 of the team explained that «we knew it was a game of life or death and we managed to have great mutual help, a very strong group, and that’s why we managed to get this result and move on to the next phase, which was the more important”.
National coach Paulo Freitas said that motivation is present every day: «We wake up motivated every day. We represent the team, we represent a country. Yesterday we had a result that we didn’t want and which, in my opinion, ends up being too penalizing. Today we knew it was a knockout game and here the character of the players was fundamental».
Regarding tonight’s game, Freitas explained that «we talked about what we needed to do, we talked about the attitude we should continue to have on the track, and that’s what happened». In his analysis, Portugal played «a first half where we were superior and a second half where Spain gave us several difficulties».
The coach also emphasized that «the capacity for suffering, the way the team helped each other, the way the team communicated on the track and the synergies that were created make me tremendously proud. They are players of enormous quality who suffered today in favor of a common goal».
