Pontio Preta and Náutico Share Points in Late Drama
Pontio Preta and Náutico played out a 1-1 draw in Brazilian Serie B's 22nd round at Estádio Moisés Lucarelli on Thursday night. Brandao gave the hosts the lead before Borasi's equaliser, and the match ended with two red cards as both sides left with something to regret.
Brandao broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, finishing what looked like a decent chance against the run of play. Náutico had been pressing higher up the pitch, and by then they were starting to create something. Borasi's goal came later, in the 65th minute, and it felt like the visitors had finally worked their way through. The match got messy after that, with Patricio Núñez sent off for Náutico in the 83rd minute, and Betão following in stoppage time.
There were plenty of bookings throughout. Léo Índio picked up a yellow in the 44th minute, and Benjamín Borasi went off the same way shortly after. Diego Leão and M. L. Diego were both cautioned in the 46th and 47th minutes respectively. André Lima, Arnaldo, and Patricio Núñez all joined the list before the second half was done. The yellow cards kept coming for both sides, and it added to the tension.
Substitutions came thick and fast in the second half. Igor Fernandes and Léo Índio were paired off at 46 minutes, though the latter had already been booked. Kauan Maranhao came on for Náutico in the 60th minute, and Juan Rodrigues and Gustavo Henrique followed at 76. Arnaldo was replaced at 79, Brandao at 82, and Gustavo Almeida and David da Hora both came on for Náutico in the 90th minute. The managers weren't holding any cards back.
The statistics tell a story that might surprise people who only watched the result. Náutico controlled 63% of possession and created four big chances compared to Pontio Preta's two. Their expected goals figure was 2.08, while the hosts managed 1.15. Yet the shots tell a different picture: Pontio Preta had six shots on target to Náutico's four, and their accuracy was notably better. Many of those shots for the visitors went begging, and the result doesn't quite reflect the chances they created.
Pontio Preta sit 20th in the table with ten points from 26 games, and this draw does nothing to help their case. Náutico are in 10th place with 37 points, but they'll know they should have taken more from this match. Both sides had a man sent off, and the table goes out of the window in games like these. What matters is how you respond next time.