FC Porto stun Braga with classy comeback and 11 dazzling goals | OneFootball

FC Porto were trailing 4-1 in Minho just moments before half-time, but managed to complete a comeback and eventually beat HC Braga in emphatic fashion (11-4) in the 25th and penultimate round of the regular season of the National Roller Hockey Championship. Carlo Di Benedetto scored four goals and, alongside Gonçalo Alves — who netted a hat-trick — was the standout figure in the comeback by the two-time champions, who now have 60 points in second place, five more than Sporting, who have played one game fewer.

The Dragons started better, with Carlo Di Benedetto hitting the bar straight from the opening play, but it was the hosts who opened the scoring through Gonçalo Neto (11m). Edu Lamas responded immediately, but Diogo Fernandes prevented the equaliser, which eventually came in the 16th minute through a mid-range strike from Ezequiel Mena (1-1). In the final five minutes of the first half, HC Braga scored three times — Pedro Mendes and a brace from Guilherme Guimarães put the home side 4-1 ahead — but Gonçalo Alves pulled one back before the break, converting at the second attempt after hitting the post from a penalty shot (4-2, 24m).

After the break, Porto came back out at a high tempo and cut the deficit to a single goal with Ezequiel Mena’s second, in the very first minute, before Rafa restored parity on the half-hour mark (4-4). The match remained evenly balanced at the Pavilhão das Goladas until Gonçalo Alves settled it with a powerful shot. With his usual strength, the captain made it 5-4 in the 40th minute and gave FC Porto the lead for the first time, before grabbing his second and extending the advantage to 6-4 (42m), shortly after Xavi Malián had saved the direct free hit awarded for the 10th foul. Pol Manrubia also scored in the 44th minute, before Carlo Di Benedetto wrapped up the scoring with four goals in the final four minutes to give the win an even more emphatic look (11-4).

The regular season of the National Championship ends with the home match against CH Carvalhos, scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday at Dragão Arena (Porto Canal).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.