- The 27-year-old looked nailed on to double the hosts’ lead at Estadio do Drago
- Pepe did however find the back of the net five minutes after the incident
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Porto winger Pepe showed off a touching display of sportsmanlike conduct during his side’s clash with Estoril on Sunday evening.
The hosts were 1-0 up at Estadio do Drago during the Liga Portugal clash courtesy of a goal from Danny Namaso in the 19th minute.
But the 27-year-old looked set to double their lead after receiving the ball just over the halfway line.
Running on goal, Pepe was initially bullied out of harm’s way by visiting defender Pedro Amaral, before the player pulled up short.
While Pepe made his way onto the ball and into the box, the winger quickly ground to a halt and stopped play.
Pedro Amaral (ringed in left image) had challenged Pepe for the ball but when he went down injured the Porto player called play to a half as he put the ball out (ringed right)
The Estoril defender was forced off with the injury in the 22nd minute of the Liga Portugal tie
Pepe was congratulated by his opponents for the sportsmanlike gesture – and later got his goal
In uncomfortable scenes, Amaral had gone down clutching his hamstring, and lay on the turf writhing in pain.
Pepe was immediately praised by his opponents as physios made their way onto the pitch to treat the injured Amaral.
The player was also given an ovation by the stadium and applauded by his head coach Vitor Bruno.
While Amaral was forced off and replaced by Pedro Carvalho, the slow in play had less than zero impact on Pepe’s performance, with his deserved goal coming just five minutes later.
The hosts clinched the tie 4-0 thanks to a second-half brace from Galeno, helping the side keep pace at the summit of the league table, where they sit just three points behind leaders Porto.
