Ricardo Horta expresses his feelings about the first half of the game lost by the team.

In the latest Minho derby, Sp. Braga faced an unexpected disappointment as they were defeated by Gil Vicente, a result that left captain Ricardo Horta visibly frustrated. After the final whistle, Horta did not hesitate to criticize his team’s performance, emphasizing that, in his view, the Braga side only played one half of the match.

“Football matches have two halves, and we only played one. Against a Gil Vicente that is doing well, playing well, and brimming with confidence, we needed to be better at all levels in the second half. We have to be more mature when playing with a lead. There have been several situations this season where we let the advantage slip away, and that cannot happen because points are costly,” Horta lamented to SportTV.

The Braga captain also commented on the expectation of a reaction from Gil Vicente in the second half of the game. “We talked about that at halftime, that there would be a reaction from Gil Vicente. Even though we were winning, they also had their chances in the first half, but we have to be true to our game and strong in defense. If Gil Vicente puts us under pressure, we have to know how to defend,” he emphasized, acknowledging the quality of the opponent. Horta praised Gil Vicente’s performance but reiterated that the Braga team often allows their advantage to slip away, a mistake that, according to him, is unacceptable for a club with the ambitions of Sp. Braga.

In addition to addressing the defeat, Horta reflected on his personal performance, which allowed him to surpass legends such as João Vieira Pinto and Liedson on the league’s scoring list. “I try to help the team in the best way possible, and that’s what I managed to do. These individual goals mean little when we leave here with zero points. I would have preferred it to be another player scoring, and that we took home the three points,” he stated, demonstrating that, for him, the collective is always more important than personal achievements.

Sp. Braga, who started the game in the best way with a goal from Horta in the 21st minute, saw their lead crumble in the second half, with Santi García shining by scoring and assisting. The team’s next challenge is scheduled for Saturday at 8:30 PM, where Braga could achieve an unprecedented feat: their seventh consecutive game without conceding a goal in their history. The pressure is now on the Bracarenses to show that they have learned from past mistakes and that they are ready to fight for victories that consolidate their ambitions in the competition.