Ronaldinho Scores Himself – International Selection Takes the Lead
The match was played over two halves of 35 minutes each, before an additional 15-minute round added even more excitement. Already in the first half, the international selection showed that despite the friendly nature of the game, they were eager to score.
Ronaldinho himself contributed a goal from the penalty spot to the scoring spree. Marcos Tavares and Wesley Sneijder also got on the scoresheet in the first 35 minutes. Ronaldinho & Friends thus went into halftime with a lead.
For Sneijder, however, his participation was not entirely without consequences. After a tackle and a resulting penalty, the Dutchman experienced leg problems. „I felt good, especially in the first part of the match. Then after the tackle and the penalty, I was struggling with the leg. Sometimes the body doesn’t work the way you want it to“, Sneijder reflected on his performance after the match.
Second Half: Austria Ramps Up
After the break, the Austrian legends increasingly found their rhythm. Michael Liendl initially narrowed the gap with his goal.
However, the international selection remained unfazed and restored their lead. One of the afternoon's special moments followed when Jessey Sneijder, Wesley Sneijder's son, also scored. For his father, this goal was something truly special. „It was the most beautiful moment“, Sneijder said later. „I hope he will be very good. I hope he will be better than me one day.“
Jessey himself was also pleased with his father's performance – almost. When asked how he would rate his father's performance, he initially gave a top score of 10/10. After a brief consideration, however, a correction followed: „Ok, 09/10 because of the tackle.“
14 Goals and Excitement Until the Last Kick
While Ronaldinho & Friends had at one point pulled ahead with a 6:3 lead, the game was far from over. In the additional 15-minute round, the Austrian legends stepped up once more. The equalizer came with the last action of the game, scored by Jakob Jantscher, who leveled for Copa Pele at 7:7.
The Ronaldinho’s Legends Cup was thus far more than an ordinary friendly match. For the fans, it was a rare opportunity to experience some of their biggest football idols live at the Wörthersee Stadium.
The best part: YeaEvent is already planning more events in Austria!
Don't want to miss any more football highlights? Then follow YeaEvent on Instagram now or bookmark the website for more information!
