The U19 team of O Elvas drew 1-1 with UD Leiria in a match held at Campo Pedro Barrena on December 21, part of the 14th round of Series D in the II Division of the National Championship. Despite the draw, the result turned out to be positive for the young knights, who closed the gap to the second-place team to just five points.
The Match
O Elvas started the game determined and well-organized, boosted by the support of their home crowd. The blue and gold team opened the scoring in the 41st minute, with Manuel Batista finding the back of the net to give his team a first-half lead.
The second half saw more dramatic developments. In the 67th minute, Cauã Souza was sent off, leaving O Elvas with ten players. UD Leiria took advantage of their numerical superiority and, in the final minutes, equalized through a penalty converted in the 89th minute.
The Fight for Qualification
With this draw, O Elvas is now in fifth place with 21 points. However, results from the top teams in the standings brought good news: both Oriental de Lisboa (second place) and FC Alverca (first place) lost their matches, allowing the blue and gold team to reduce the gap to second place to just five points.
Next Challenge
O Elvas will continue their fight for qualification spots in the next round, scheduled for January 18, against Oriental de Lisboa. The match will be played in Lisbon and promises to be another important test for the determination and skill of the young knights.
With strong community support and the team’s persistence, O Elvas believes there is still much to achieve this season.