Santa Clara and Nacional draw 2-2 in I Liga opener

Santa Clara and Nacional played to a 2-2 draw in Ponta Delgada, concluding the first round of the 2026/27 I Liga season. Gonçalo Paciência scored twice for Santa Clara in the 19th and 21st minutes to give the home side an early lead.

Nacional responded before halftime, with Igor Liziero converting a penalty in the 36th minute and Miguel Baeza equalizing in the 45th minute. The score remained unchanged through the second half.

Following the match, Nacional coach João Gião noted that while the team struggled to break through Santa Clara's lines in the first half, they showed character to fight back. He attributed the first goal to a defensive error and noted that the team had to compete effectively despite facing challenges, including a player suffering from cramps.