“Abdel Njoya headers Nacional into the lead from a corner, continuing a pattern of set-piece pressure that had already produced one near-miss.”
“Despite being down to ten men, Rio Ave hits the front through Diogo Bezerra, finished off Clemmensen's through ball.”
Pivotal“Njoya levels again almost immediately, completing his brace and restoring parity within two minutes of going behind.”
Pivotal“Jalen Blesa converts a penalty awarded after a VAR review for a foul on himself, giving Rio Ave the lead for good.”
Pivotal
Rio Ave
Nacional
Outstanding performance
Nacional•AttackerNacional took a deserved early lead through Abdel Njoya's header from a corner, and looked comfortable until João Tomé's rash second yellow card at 54' changed everything, reducing Rio Ave to face a numbers disadvantage that never materialized into a problem - instead it sparked chaos. Rio Ave, despite the setback, had already equalized through Clemmensen before the red card, and then stormed into the lead twice more as Bezerra and Njoya traded blows before Jalen Blesa's 72nd-minute penalty settled it. Rio Ave's superior passing (423 to 316, 85% accuracy) and clinical edge in front of goal - just 11 shots to Nacional's 12, but more on target - proved decisive, while Nacional's committed but undisciplined approach (17 fouls, 20 tackles, three players booked including the red card) undermined their positional advantage. For Rio Ave, sitting in deep trouble before kickoff, this is a precious lift out of the relegation mire against a Nacional side whose European ambitions take a real hit on the road.
How entertaining was this match?
Foul committed by Francisco Gonçalves of CD Nacional.
Marios Vrousai from Rio Ave wins a free kick on the left wing.
Diogo Nascimento from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Stavros Gavriel of CD Nacional.
Tamble Monteiro from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Allen Obando's header from the center of the box for CD Nacional is blocked. Miguel Baeza provided the assist with a cross.
Attempt missed. Miguel Baeza from CD Nacional heads the ball from the center of the box.
CD Nacional earns a corner after a concession by Tamble Monteiro.
Foul committed by Fernando Nava of CD Nacional.
Marios Vrousai from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Roland Galcík of Rio Ave.
R. GalčíkYellow CardRoland Galcík from Rio Ave receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 7 minutes of added time.
Stavros Gavriel from CD Nacional wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside called against CD Nacional. Allen Obando is caught offside.
Tamble Monteiro's right-footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Roland Galcík.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after Zé Vítor concedes.
Joel Silva from CD Nacional misses a header from the center of the box, sending it close but to the left. He was assisted by Miguel Baeza, who provided a cross after a corner.
CD Nacional wins a corner after Gustavo Mancha concedes.
CD Nacional wins a corner after Francisco Petrasso concedes.
Attempt saved. Vitor Hugo from Rio Ave saves a header from Allen Obando of CD Nacional, who was in the center of the box. The cross was assisted by Miguel Baeza.
Offside called against CD Nacional. Allen Obando is caught offside.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Substitution for CD Nacional: Stavros Gavriel comes on for Song Min-Kyu.
Substitution for CD Nacional: Joel Silva comes on for Abdel Njoya due to an injury.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Abdel Njoya from CD Nacional.
Substitution for Rio Ave: Tamble Monteiro comes on for Jalen Blesa.
Substitution for CD Nacional: Allen Obando comes on for Matchoi Djaló.
Offside called against CD Nacional. William Kokolo is caught offside.
Substitution for Rio Ave: Diogo Nascimento comes on for Diogo Bezerra.
Substitution for Rio Ave: Simón García comes on for Malik Sellouki.
Attempt missed. Deivison from CD Nacional takes a right-footed shot from outside the box that goes to the left.
Fernando Nava from CD Nacional commits a foul.
Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Miguel Baeza from CD Nacional has his right-footed shot from the center of the box saved by Vitor Hugo in the center of the goal. The attempt was assisted by William Kokolo.
Jalen BlesaYellow CardJalen Blesa from Rio Ave receives a yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal! Jalen Blesa scores a penalty for Rio Ave with a right-footed shot into the bottom right corner. The score is now Rio Ave 3, CD Nacional 2.
Danel Dongmo of CD Nacional concedes a penalty after committing a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty awarded to Rio Ave as Jalen Blesa is fouled in the penalty area.
VAR decision results in a penalty for Rio Ave.
Foul committed by William Kokolo of CD Nacional.
Diogo Bezerra from Rio Ave wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution for CD Nacional: Miguel Baeza comes on for Chiheb Laabidi.
Substitution for CD Nacional: Fernando Nava comes on for Daniel Júnior.
Roland Galcík's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Malik Sellouki provided the assist.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after a concession by Chiheb Laabidi.
Jalen Blesa's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after a concession by Renato Marin.
Andreas Ntoi from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Matchoi Djaló of CD Nacional.
Substitution for Rio Ave: Francisco Petrasso comes on for Miguel Patrício.
Substitution for Rio Ave: Roland Galcík comes on for Sebastian Clemmensen.
Attempt saved. Miguel Patrício from Rio Ave has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but Renato Marin from CD Nacional saves it in the bottom right corner. The shot was assisted by Sebastian Clemmensen.
Goal! The match is now 2-2 as Abdel Njoya scores for CD Nacional with a right-footed shot from the left side of the six-yard box into the high center of the goal.
assist: Sebastian Clemmensen
Goal! Rio Ave leads CD Nacional 2-1. Diogo Bezerra scores for Rio Ave with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Sebastian Clemmensen's through ball.
Attempt missed. Zé Vítor from CD Nacional takes a left-footed shot from outside the box but it goes to the right.
Song Min-Kyu from CD Nacional wins a free kick on the left wing.
João Tomé from Rio Ave commits a foul.
João Tomé2nd YellowJoão Tomé of Rio Ave receives a second yellow card for a bad foul.
João ToméYellow CardJoão Tomé from Rio Ave receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Chiheb Laabidi from CD Nacional wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by João Tomé of Rio Ave.
Chiheb Laabidi from CD Nacional commits a foul.
Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after Zé Vítor concedes.
The second half begins with the match tied at 1-1 between Rio Ave and CD Nacional.
First half ends with the score 1-1 between Rio Ave and CD Nacional.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Daniel Júnior from CD Nacional is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Marios Vrousai from Rio Ave commits a foul.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after a concession by Danel Dongmo.
Daniel Júnior from CD Nacional is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave commits a foul.
Foul committed by William Kokolo of CD Nacional.
Sebastian Clemmensen from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Miguel Patrício from Rio Ave has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the bottom right corner by Renato Marin of CD Nacional. The assist came from Jalen Blesa.
Goal! The score is now 1-1 as Sebastian Clemmensen scores for Rio Ave with a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box into the high center of the goal.
Attempt missed. William Kokolo from CD Nacional takes a right-footed shot from outside the box but misses to the left after a corner.
CD Nacional wins a corner after João Tomé concedes.
Foul committed by William Kokolo of CD Nacional.
Sebastian Clemmensen from Rio Ave wins a free kick on the right wing.
assist: Francisco Gonçalves
Goal! CD Nacional takes the lead 1-0 against Rio Ave. Abdel Njoya scores with a header from the center of the box into the bottom left corner, assisted by Francisco Gonçalves, who provided a headed pass after a corner.
CD Nacional wins a corner after Gustavo Mancha concedes.
Abdel Njoya from CD Nacional misses an attempt with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it too high. He was assisted by Chiheb Laabidi, who provided a headed pass after a corner.
CD Nacional wins a corner after Sebastian Clemmensen concedes.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after Danel Dongmo concedes.
Abdel Njoya from CD Nacional commits a foul.
Jalen Blesa from Rio Ave wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Chiheb Laabidi of CD Nacional.
Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Francisco Gonçalves of CD Nacional.
Jalen Blesa from Rio Ave wins a free kick on the left wing.
Matchoi Djaló from CD Nacional is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave commits a foul.
Foul committed by Chiheb Laabidi of CD Nacional.
Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Malik Sellouki from Rio Ave has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but Renato Marin from CD Nacional saves it in the bottom right corner. João Tomé provided the assist.
Attempt blocked. Sebastian Clemmensen from Rio Ave has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked.
Danel Dongmo from CD Nacional commits a foul.
Sebastian Clemmensen from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Matchoi Djaló of CD Nacional has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but Vitor Hugo of Rio Ave saves it in the top center of the goal. The shot was assisted by Song Min-Kyu.
CD Nacional wins a corner after Vitor Hugo concedes.
Foul committed by Marios Vrousai of Rio Ave.
Daniel Júnior from CD Nacional is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after Deivison concedes.
Miguel Patrício's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Diogo Bezerra.
Corner awarded to Rio Ave after Danel Dongmo concedes.
Sebastian Clemmensen from Rio Ave wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Chiheb Laabidi of CD Nacional.
First half begins.
