National Volleyball champions FC Porto have not started 2025 as they hoped. In Azores, against Clube Kairós, Miguel Coelho’s team worked hard and brought the match on the 14th day of the league to a decisive set, but ultimately failed, losing the final set 15-13 (3- 2). With this result, they remain in fourth place with 27 points, equaling the total of their opponents this afternoon.
The Açorianas made a strong impression at the start of the match, quickly taking a lead on the scoreboard (5-1), but a robust response from the visitors from Invicta allowed them to take the first lead of the match (14- 15). Five straight points seemed to seal the first set in favor of the home side, which indeed happened, but not without the Portuguese team fighting until the end (25-25), forcing the set to go to points additional (29-27).
A powerful start in the second set, marked by three unanswered points, allowed FC Porto to win the set without ever trailing. The clear score of 16-25 tied the match. The home team showed its strength again in the third set and regained the advantage in the duel (25-22, 2-1).
While balance characterized the start of the fourth set, this was not the case for the rest of the set. From the 13-12 advantage for Clube Kairós, Porto players scored 13 points, conceding only four, which took the match into the deciding set. In this critical phase, the islanders scored first, but the visitors reversed the situation to 3-1, taking the advantage (4-7) which was quickly canceled (11-10). The opponents led 12-10, the reigning champions reduced to 12-13, but ultimately left the archipelago defeated (15-13, 3-2).
Next, they face Vero Volley Milano, considered by Miguel Coelho as “one of the three best teams in the world”, at the Arena Dragão (Wednesday, 8:30 p.m., Porto Canal).
KAIRÓS CLUB: Maria Onofri (libéro) ; Milica Vukovic, Kanna Hanazawa, Grace Pyatt, Kélsia Canoa, Katia Oliveira, Kennedy Evans, Thuany Bardin, Shirei Ganah, Lam-Wing Chim et Tatiana Vera.
Coach : João Carronha.
FC PORTO: Joana Resende and Bruna Guedes (liberos); Brianna Kadiku, Sara Rohr, Lila Durão, Kyla Swanson, Janaína Vieira, Victória Alves, Erika Mercado, Gabi Coelho, Bruna Correia, Shainah Joseph, Puck Hoogers and Ana Rui Monteiro.
Coach : Miguel Coelho.
