Sportin de Cabinda and 1st of August shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at the Girabola's fourth round on Wednesday. The result leaves the hosts still searching for their first point of the campaign. Meanwhile, the visitors remain unbeaten after three matches.
To be fair, the table told you what to expect before kickoff. The home side sat bottom with zero points from three defeats, while the visitors had already collected nine from three victories. A draw for the away team was perhaps the most logical outcome given the circumstances.
And here's the thing about league football when a team has nothing to lose, they sometimes play with more freedom. But this wasn't cup football, and the pressure showed on both sides. Neither side could afford to give ground, which meant the game stayed tight.
Sportin de Cabinda's recent form makes this result less surprising than it might seem. They'd lost 1-2 to Luanda, 1-2 to Desportivo de Uíla, and 0-3 to Recreativo do Libolo in their opening three matches. By then, you'd expect a team to be looking for something.
The visitors had built momentum with victories over Green Mambo, Interclube, and the first of May side. A 1-1 draw against a struggling opponent could easily have become a 3-0 statement. Instead, they had to settle for two points they might have wanted all three.
The gap between them remains nine points, but the trajectory has shifted slightly. The hosts now have a point to build on, while the visitors dropped two they might have needed later in the season.