Vila-Rica and Belenenses played out a 2-2 draw on Sunday in the fifth round of the Série B2 do Estado do Pará. The result leaves the hosts rooted to the bottom of the table with no points from two games, while Belenenses move to six points from three matches. By then, neither side had much to play for beyond pride.
It was a curious result given the history between them. Belenenses had hammered Vila-Rica 8-0 just nine days earlier, and now the hosts managed to claw their way back from behind. To be fair, the visitors let the game flow in the second half, which cost them something.
Vila-Rica remain in twelveth place after two defeats, while Belenenses sit third with a win over Sport Belém and a loss to the same side. The gap between them is still wide, but this match closed it slightly. The clean-sheet run came to an end for Belenenses, though that is hardly a tragedy after one heavy defeat.
Both teams have played sparingly so far this season. Vila-Rica have two matches under their belt, Belenenses three. That means there is plenty of time for form to develop or collapse. The support of the fans could be called devoted, but that is an assessment, not a fact. The fact is that the club sits top of the table — well, not top, but Belenenses are chasing it.
What matters now is what comes next. Vila-Rica will need to find a way to stop losing. Belenenses must decide whether to push forward or consolidate. And here's the thing — neither side knows yet what they are. Not really. Not until they face each other again, or anyone else worth remembering.