Arouca beat Marítimo 2:1 in the fourth round of the Primeira Liga at the Estádio Municipal de Aroca on Saturday. The result keeps the hosts in third place on nine points, while Marítimo remain fifth with seven.
Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring in the twenty-seventh minute, slotting home after a patient build-up. Marítimo levelled before the break when Espen van Ee struck in the forty-fourth minute, and by then the match had turned into something more even than the opening exchanges suggested.
Iván Barbero restored Arouca's lead in the fifty-fifth minute, finishing from close range after a quick counter. The home side had some nerves after that, but they held firm despite a second yellow card for Raphael Guzzo in the forty-fourth minute and further cautions for Dylan Nandín and Javi Sánchez later on.
Arouca kept their shape and came from behind when it mattered. They created two big chances against one for the visitors, and the extra effort showed in their shot accuracy of forty-one per cent compared to Marítimo's thirty-three.
Both managers made changes in the final third of the game. Arouca brought on Bryan Limbombe, Alfonso Trezza and Iván Barbero, while Marítimo responded with Adrián Butzke, Vladan Danilović and Pablo Gozálbez among others.
The win leaves Arouca four points clear of Marítimo in the table, and the hosts have now won three of their four matches. Marítimo's draw with Académico Viseu earlier this month showed they can compete, but Saturday's defeat means they need to find consistency if they want to close the gap.
