Estoril Praia beat Arouca in seven-goal thriller | OneFootball

Estoril scored four goals for the second successive week to beat Arouca 4-3 in a thriller at the Estádio António Coimbra da Mota to jump up to 8th place in the standings ahead of the rest of the weekend games.

Both sides are known for playing proactive attacking football with little regard for defensive duties. Arouca are yet to keep a clean sheet this season in 12 matches in all competitions, with Estoril only managing a shut-out once in the same number of games. So goals were guaranteed, right? Correct, and then some.

May the (goal-scoring) action begin

Taichi Fukui got the ball rolling, taking advantage of a poor clearance by Gonçalo Costa to fire home from the top of the box. Estoril hit straight back, Fukui going from hero to zero as he deflected a Jordan Holsgrove cross into his own net. Ten minutes gone. 1-1.

Arouca regained the lead through a fabulous strike by Naïs Djouahra, who got on the end of a corner to smash a first-time volley into the net. Estoril were level shortly before half time, Kévin Boma rising well to powerfully head home a Holsgrove corner.

Estoril thought they had snatched a half-time lead when Begraoui tapped in from close range but the striker was offside.

Brilliant Holsgrove puts Estoril ahead

Man-of-the-match Holsgrove was having a storming match and it was the Scot who gave the hosts the lead early in the second half with another fine goal. Picking up the ball inside the box on the right, Holsgrove danced past a couple of defenders and curled a low shot into the far corner.

Estoril almost went two goals clear soon afterwards as Yanis Begraoui smashed a shot against the post, with Arouca defender Tiago Esgaio then deflecting the rebound onto the opposite post.

The seesaw nature of the match was in evidence again when Arouca hit back in the 74th minute. Djouahra’s cross seemed inoffensive but Boma completely fluffed what should have been a routine clearance and the ball skidded into the corner of the net.

Inspired substitution wins it for Estoril

Ian Cathro made a curious substitution, bringing on Rafik Guitane for Peixinho, who himself had only entered in the second half.

It proved an inspired move as Guitane displayed his superb control and dribbling skills to set up captain João Carvalho to poke in the winner and trigger wild celebrations among the Estoril fans and coaching staff.