Decisive figure lifts Rio Ave at Santa Clara | OneFootball

Tamás Nikitscher broke the deadlock in the 50th minute with a header, setting Rio Ave on their way to a 2-0 win at Santa Clara.

He attacked the near-post lane to meet Marius Vrushaj's cross from a recycled corner, glancing into the bottom-right corner (50.).

Nikitscher then helped manage the game without the ball, drawing a defensive free-kick to slow the tempo (78.). In the third minute of second half stoppage time he won another free-kick to snuff out a late push.

The Hungary midfielder finished with three tackles, two interceptions and won possession seven times, numbers that underlined his control of second balls and protection of the back line.

Because Rio Ave regularly found him between Santa Clara's lines at set pieces and in transition, his presence both punished from dead balls and stabilised midfield when the hosts tried to rally.

Rio Ave rise from 12th to 10th and host AVS next. Santa Clara visit Casa Pia.