FAFE, Portugal (Interstat) — In a tense Taça de Portugal preliminary round match that saw two ejections, Fafe and SCU Torreense U23 played to a 1-1 draw Wednesday at Parque Municipal dos Desportos.

The match, which ultimately aligned with a pregame statistical projection, was decisively shaped by a second-half red card that forced the home side to play a man down for the final 35 minutes. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Fafe managed to salvage the draw, ensuring both clubs remain unbeaten but still seeking their first win of the season across all competitions.

The game’s opening goal came just before halftime. In the 43rd minute, Fafe midfielder João Oliveira broke the deadlock, finishing a play to give the hosts a lead heading into the interval.

The momentum shifted dramatically early in the second half. In the 55th minute, Fafe’s João Gonçalo was shown a straight red card, reducing his team to 10 men. The visiting Torreense U23 side capitalized on the advantage just four minutes later. Substitute Manuel Pozo, who had entered the match after the sending off, leveled the score in the 59th minute. The equalizer was assisted by defender João Baptista.

The match grew increasingly fractious as it progressed. Torreense U23 substitute Costinha received a yellow card in the 79th minute, which was quickly followed by a booking for his teammate João Baptista just a minute later. Costinha’s afternoon worsened in the 89th minute when he received a second yellow card, resulting in his ejection and leveling the sides at 10 players each for the frantic final moments of stoppage time. Torreense U23’s Stopira, another substitute, was also booked in the third minute of added time.

The draw leaves both teams with identical records in the Portuguese Cup: zero wins, zero losses and one draw. Their overall season records also mirror each other. The result defied the pre-match probabilities from Interstat’s ELO system, which had given Fafe a 71.3 percent chance of victory. However, the final score did match the organization’s game simulator projection of a 1-1 outcome.

Key performances included Fafe’s goal-scorer João Oliveira and Torreense U23’s answering scorer Manuel Pozo. Stopira and João Baptista registered assists for the visitors, while Costinha’s eventful substitute appearance included an assist on Pozo’s goal before his two yellow cards led to a dismissal.

The tie forces a replay at a later date to determine which club will advance to the next round of the Taça de Portugal.