Once Andrei Arshavin showed the newspaper to tell Manchester City, after leaving Sporting, the first memory was the 2012 match and the heel goal. Xandão’s goal went around the world, stunned the world by seeing the already powerful City fall in Portugal. The world was more surprised when the English Lions were eliminated in the round of 16 of the European League, the future English Premier League champion, and then the most likely candidate in the competition.
“It was undoubtedly the most important goal of my career. Not just because of the opponent, but because of his importance,” Zandao told A BOLA.
Success began with a draw in the previous match, defeat (0-1) in Setúbal, the goal scored by Bruno Amaro. “It was my fault that gave Vitoria a goal. On my trip to the academy, I was disappointed with Sa Bento and he told me in front of everyone that he trusted me and that he would play for City. It gave me a lot of fuel to turn around. It would have been my first chance against a world giant. I’ve never played against a great European player. In my head, this was the most important game of my career. It was a chosen goal”, recalls the Brazilian.
Today, at the age of 33, already retired, Xandão remembers a tough tie. In England, Sporting reached Manchester City 2-0, City made the score 3-2, and Sporting got the away goals ticket.
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