Moreirense punish Marítimo despite spending less time on the ball

Moreirense turned a smaller share of the ball into a convincing 3-1 win over Marítimo. The home side scored twice before half-time, absorbed long spells of pressure after the break and restored its two-goal lead from the penalty spot. Marítimo had 62 per cent possession, but only two shots on target.

Moreirense did not need to dominate possession to take charge. The hosts had 38 per cent of the ball, yet their 11 shots were their highest total across the six matches in the comparison. Their five shots on target were also a joint match high for that comparison, while seven efforts came from inside the box. That gave the early pressure a clear edge.

The first goal arrived in the 17th minute, when Manuel Ascenção Bebiano Mendonça finished a move assisted by Tiago Andrade. Leonardo Vonić then doubled the lead in the 28th minute, with Kiko Bondoso providing the assist. Marítimo changed two players at half-time, but its control of the ball did not immediately change the game. Romain Correia pulled one back in the 79th minute, only for Alexandre Duville-Parsemain to score from a penalty in the 86th.

Moreirense’s opening goal mattered because it rewarded the side that had made the clearer use of its attacks. Tiago Andrade supplied the assist for Manuel Ascenção Bebiano Mendonça in the 17th minute, moving Moreirense ahead before Marítimo had turned its possession into a shot on target. The goal allowed the hosts to defend their lead without needing to chase the match.

The second goal made the difference in territory even less important. Kiko Bondoso assisted Leonardo Vonić in the 28th minute, and Moreirense went into half-time 2-0 ahead. Marítimo’s response eventually came through Romain Correia in the 79th minute, but the comeback lasted seven minutes. Alexandre Duville-Parsemain, introduced for Vonić in the 61st minute, converted a penalty in the 86th minute to turn a one-goal game back into a two-goal win.

Moreirense’s attacking figures explain the result better than its possession figure. The 11 shots were their highest total in the six matches compared, up from an average of 7.33. Five were on target, also their best mark in that comparison, compared with an average of 2.83. Seven attempts came from inside the box, another first in the comparison, against an average of 4.17.

The home side also showed discipline in where it took the game. Four of its 11 efforts came from outside the box, while two were blocked. That left five on target and forced one save from Alfonso Pastor. Moreirense’s 38 per cent possession was two points above its average and its second-highest figure across the six matches, so this was not simply a night of defending without the ball.

The cost came when Marítimo’s pressure finally reached the penalty area. Moreirense conceded in the 79th minute, and André Ferreira made one save across the match. Still, the defence held its shape long enough for the penalty to settle the contest. Gilberto Batista completed 90 minutes with 33 accurate passes from 35, two tackles and one interception, while Kiko made 36 accurate passes from 44 and added a tackle and an interception. Moreirense’s clean first half gave those defensive efforts room to matter.

Marítimo’s 62 per cent possession was its highest figure across the six matches compared. It was 16.17 points above the team’s average and came with five corners, also a comparison high. The passing volume was substantial, with 535 passes and 449 accurate, but the possession did not produce the required shooting quality.

Marítimo registered nine shots, below its average of 10.5, and only two were on target against an average of 3.17. Six came from inside the box, below the average of 7.5, while four efforts were blocked. The side therefore had territory and set-piece pressure, but Moreirense’s goal was rarely under sustained direct threat. Alfonso Pastor made one save, the same number as André Ferreira.

The changes at half-time showed the urgency of the situation. Maxime Dominguez replaced Rodrigo Andrade and Israel Ayuma came on for Bryan Limbombe with Marítimo 2-0 behind. Romain Correia’s 79th-minute goal gave the visitors a real opening, but the penalty seven minutes later removed it. Correia still offered a bright individual note: he scored, completed 83 of 91 passes and won five of six duels. The wider attack did not match that level of efficiency.

Alexandre Duville-Parsemain made a direct impact from the bench. He played 29 minutes, scored once from one shot and rated 7.56. That was 1.61 points above his season rating of 5.95. Manuel Ascenção Bebiano Mendonça also stood above his own level: his 7.01 rating was 0.71 above his season rating of 6.3, and he scored Moreirense’s first goal.

Gilberto Batista rated 7.1 after a season rating of 6.5, a rise of 0.6. He paired that with 94.3 per cent pass accuracy. Kiko rated 6.92, which was 0.46 above his season rating of 6.46. Tiago Andrade added an assist, three key passes and three interceptions in 90 minutes.

Marítimo’s clearest positive was Romain Correia. His 7.81 rating stood 1.05 above his season rating of 6.76, and his goal gave the visitors a route back into the game. Martín Tejón had five shots but none on target, rating 6.48 against a season rating of 7.3. Alfonso Pastor rated 5.79, 0.85 below his season rating of 6.64, despite making one save.

The available match measures point in the same direction as the result. Moreirense had fewer passes of the ball, but it produced 11 shots to Marítimo’s nine and five on target to two. Its seven attempts from inside the box also exceeded Marítimo’s six. Those are small differences in volume, but the accuracy gap was clear.

The goalkeeper figures reinforce that reading. André Ferreira and Alfonso Pastor each made one save, yet Marítimo needed two goals after Moreirense had already built a 2-0 lead. The visitors’ 62 per cent possession shows where the match was played for long periods. The shot and score details show who turned possession into danger. The result was not simply a reward for sitting deep; Moreirense created the sharper attacking night.

Moreirense moved to 4 points after five matches and climbed to 14th in the Primeira Liga standings. The win also changed the tone of its recent results, following three defeats in the previous five listed matches. The attacking output was the strongest part of this performance, especially because it came with only 38 per cent possession.

Marítimo remained on 7 points after five matches and sat 10th. Its possession was excellent by its own comparison, but the nine shots and two on target were both below its averages. The next reading of this team will depend on whether control becomes more direct threat, and whether its defence can avoid giving opponents the kind of early lead Moreirense took here.

• Whether Moreirense can repeat 11 shots and five on target after reaching a comparison high in both measures.
• Whether Marítimo can turn possession above its 45.83 average into more than two shots on target.
• Whether Marítimo’s inside-box output can rise above six attempts after falling below its average of 7.5.