Madalena cruise past Barreiro in Portugal Cup
Madalena defeated Barreiro 2:5 in the 1/128-finals of the Portugal Cup on Saturday evening. The result sent the visitors through to the next round while Barreiro's campaign came to an end.
And here's the thing about cup football — you don't always need to dominate to win. Madalena managed just four corners against Barreiro's six, yet that told you nothing about who actually controlled the game. The final scoreline suggested otherwise.
Barreiro had more goal kicks with nine compared to seven, which might indicate they spent more time under pressure. But pressure doesn't always translate into chances created, and in this case the visitors made their moments count.
By then the statistics were almost academic. Madalena arrived in poor form, having lost their last three matches — 0:2 to Estrela Vascos Novas, 0:1 to Oriental Lisbon, and 0:3 to Barrenci. This result broke that run decisively.
The visitors now sit ahead in the competition. Barreiro, meanwhile, face a quiet summer after their cup exit.