OC Barcelos beat FC Porto to lift the Continental Cup | OneFootball

The old Barcelos Municipal Pavilion experienced a night of celebration. Amid nerves, hope, and the faith of those who see hockey as more than just a pastime, OC Barcelos claimed the Continental Cup for the second time, 33 years after their previous victory, by defeating FC Porto 4-3 in a final marked by comebacks, emotion, and the relentless support from the stands.

The match picked up pace early on. FC Porto, bolder in the opening minutes, took the lead with a goal from Edu Lamas in the 19th minute, the result of a quick and well-executed transition. The pavilion fell silent for a moment, until Carlos Ramos took center stage: in just six minutes, he scored twice, including one just 25 seconds after conceding, restoring confidence to the Barcelos supporters.

After the break, the game maintained a frantic rhythm. OC Barcelos appeared loose and determined, driven by the roughly 1,500 fans who packed the stands. Kyllian Gil, opportunistic, took advantage of the opponent’s defensive passivity and made it 3-1 in the 27th minute. The current national champions seemed, for a moment, unable to respond to the Minho onslaught.

Drama struck again. Gonçalo Alves, a set-piece specialist, pulled one back from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute, reigniting Porto’s hopes. In the final ten minutes, the Dragons pressed hard against Guillem Torrents’ goal, but the Spanish goalkeeper was at his best: calm, focused, and nearly unbeatable.

When Ivan Morales made it 4-2 with 38 seconds left, the pavilion erupted. There was still time for Rafa to pull one back, but the scoreboard saw no further changes. The trophy stayed in Barcelos, where roller hockey is almost a religion.

Thirty-three years later, OC Barcelos repeats the feat, equals FC Porto’s number of Continental Cups, and reminds all of Europe that when the stick and ball meet in the city of the rooster, the heart of Barcelos speaks louder.

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