Varzim saw off Trofense 5:1 in the 1/128-finals of the Portuguese Cup on Friday evening. The home side controlled proceedings from the opening whistle and never looked back, despite a late dismissal that briefly gave the visitors hope. By then the result was already beyond doubt.
And here's the thing about the early exchanges — Varzim struck first at eleven minutes, then doubled their advantage just before half-time. Two yellow cards came in quick succession around the thirty-minute mark, one for each side. To be fair, the away side worked a short corner but couldn't convert the pressure.
The turning point arrived at seventy minutes when a red card reduced Trofense to ten men. What followed was a series of goals that stretched the margin beyond reasonable contest. Seven-minute span saw two more goals, then another at eighty-seven to close out the evening. The stadium fell silent as the visitors' clean-sheet ambitions evaporated.
By then the statistics told a straightforward story. Varzim enjoyed 61 per cent possession with 68 attacks against 59 for the visitors. Trofense managed three corners to one but paid for their aggression with five yellow cards and a red. The high line was picked apart repeatedly, and the away full-back had a torrid evening.
For Varzim this extends a run of four victories in five matches, including that narrow 1:0 win over Trofense earlier this month. The hosts have now demonstrated they can spring a surprise when the occasion demands it. Trofense's form continues to struggle, with only one win in their last five outings across all competitions.