Decisive figure puts Arouca in control with set-piece header | OneFootball

Tiago Esgaio broke the deadlock in the 44th minute with a glancing header from a corner, setting Arouca on course for a 3-0 win at Rio Ave.

He attacked José Fontán's delivery at the back post and steered his header into the bottom right. The strike settled a cagey first half and shifted the game's tempo towards the visitors.

After the restart he backed it up without the ball, stacking three clearances, two tackles won, five possessions regained and four recoveries as Arouca squeezed the space. With the platform established, the visitors added a second from close range (53.). The third arrived from the centre of the box to complete the job (66.).

Esgaio also contributed in possession, completing 38 of 46 passes and finding teammates in the final third four times. Two accurate crosses from three attempts underlined how the right back kept Rio Ave pinned back.

The display underlines his two-way value before Arouca host Vitória S.C. next. Rio Ave visit Braga.