FC Alverca earned a hard-fought 2-1 home victory over FC Arouca on Friday night, with substitute Marko Milovanovic delivering the decisive goal on matchday 31 of the Primeira Liga.
The hosts struck early. In the 9th minute, Kaiky Marques put Alverca ahead, finishing a move created by Nabil to make it 1-0. That early breakthrough allowed Alverca to control the tempo for much of the first half, while Arouca struggled to create clear chances and picked up the first of several bookings when Tiago Esgaio was shown a yellow card on 35 minutes.
Arouca responded shortly after the interval. In the 49th minute, Espen van Ee levelled the score at 1-1, converting after good work from Bas Kuipers down the flank. The equaliser shifted the momentum, prompting both coaches to turn to their benches.
The key change arrived on 68 minutes when Alverca introduced Milovanovic for Sandro Lima. Just three minutes later, the move paid off. In the 71st minute, Milovanovic struck what proved to be the winner, finishing from a pass by Chiquinho to restore Alverca’s lead at 2-1.
Arouca’s attempts to come back again were hampered by a flurry of yellow cards, all falling to the visitors: José Fontán, Matías Rocha, van Ee and late substitute Alfonso Trezza were all booked in an increasingly tense second half. The away side made multiple attacking substitutions, including the introductions of Pedro Santos, Mateo Flores, Fally Mayulu and Brian Mansilla, but could not break down Alverca’s defence.
Alverca made further late changes, including bringing on Davy Gui, Vasco Moreira and Diogo Spencer, to help see out the result. No detailed data on shots, possession or other match statistics was available, but the recorded goals, bookings and substitutions underline a tight contest decided by Milovanovic’s clinical cameo.
The result gives Alverca an important three points in the Primeira Liga encounter, while Arouca leave empty-handed despite their early second-half fightback.
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