Author: Barkha Roy
The fans at Ilha do Retiro experienced a rollercoaster of emotions on Monday night when Sport faced Ponte Preta. From the frustration of seeing Ponte Preta take a 3-0 lead to the joy of Sport’s comeback, the game left spectators with the feeling of having a glass half full and half empty. The players shared similar sentiments, with Diego Souza expressing disappointment at the slowdown at the end of the contest that prevented a complete turnaround for the Rubro-Negra team.
“I was more upset about the final minutes than the middle of the game, because when we were chasing the result, we needed to stay mentally strong,” lamented Diego Souza. “Once we got back into the game, we started to play more defensively. When it came to ‘all or nothing’, we put pressure on Ponte Preta, we pressed the team. But when they were on the ropes, we relaxed a bit at the end to secure a point. If we’d kept pressing, we could have won the match“, he added in an interview with “Rádio Jornal” after the match.
After the final whistle, Diego Souza, who came off the bench when Ponte Preta were already leading 3-0, showed visible discontent on the pitch. Despite his frustration, the player who wears the number 87 shirt praised the team’s determination.
“However, the team deserves credit. It’s not just any team that has the courage to play in front of such a passionate crowd, keep its composure and produce results“, said Diego Souza.
With the draw, Sport maintained their unbeaten run of six games, but missed a golden chance to close the gap on league leaders Vitória and extend their lead over fifth-placed Atlético-GO. Leão remain in second place on 55 points. Ponte Preta, on the other hand, are still without a win and are dangerously close to the relegation zone. The Macaca have 34 points, just four more than Chapecoense, the first team in the relegation zone.
The dramatic clash at Ilha do Retiro had the fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Ponte Preta surprised the home fans with a 3-0 lead, leaving Sport in a difficult situation. However, the home side managed to recover and the match ended in a 3-3 draw.
The turning point in the game came when Diego Souza came on. The experienced striker injected new energy into Sport’s attack and played a key role in the team’s turnaround. Sport began to recover with goals from André and Marcão Silva. Then, in the final minutes of the match, the team completed their remarkable turnaround when Thiago Neves scored to secure a point for his club.
Sport’s six-game unbeaten run shows their resilience and determination in the league, but missed opportunities like these could come back to haunt them as they chase top spot in the table. The team’s performance on Monday night demonstrated both their potential and their vulnerabilities.
Coach Enderson Moreira praised his players’ fighting spirit, but acknowledged the need to maintain focus and intensity throughout the match. He said: “We showed incredible character to come back from 3-0 down, but we also need to learn to close out games when we’re in the lead. We can’t afford to let crucial points like this slip away.“