Atlético Arteixo’s Last-Gasp Rally Stuns Noia at San Lázaro, Flipping the Group 1 Narrative

As dusk settled over Estadio San Lázaro on Sunday, the match between Noia and Atlético Arteixo delivered a spectacle that defied the form book and ignited new possibilities in the Tercera División RFEF Group 1 landscape. For ninety minutes, both teams, stationed at opposite ends of the table’s momentum, waged a contest defined by urgency, missed chances, and, ultimately, the drama of two goals in the final seven minutes that saw Atlético Arteixo seize a season-defining 3-2 away win.

Noia, riding high in 9th position after a solid start—two wins from five, seven points, and a sense of upward mobility—were hosting an Arteixo side desperate to break out of an early-season malaise. The visitors had collected just four points from their opening five fixtures, sitting 16th, their campaign weighed down by three defeats and a winless streak that threatened to define their autumn.

Yet, as the evening would unfold, the form book was to be rewritten.

Chronology of Chaos: Key Moments Redefine the Match

The match simmered in its early exchanges with Noia probing Arteixo’s defense, their intent clear after claiming a late victory at Viveiro just a week ago. The breakthrough arrived in the 37th minute, as Noia’s attack found the opener—details on the scorer remain elusive, but the goal itself was a product of sustained pressure and fluid movement. Fans in San Lázaro sensed another home triumph in the making.

Arteixo, however, showed reserves of resilience not seen since their opening day victory. Just as the first half drew to a close, they stunned the hosts with an equalizer on 45 minutes, bringing parity at the interval and muting the home crowd’s celebrations.

The drama intensified in stoppage time of the first half, as Noia reclaimed the lead with an immediate response—a 45th-minute goal that spoke of character and tactical sharpness. The interval saw Noia ahead 2-1, seemingly poised to press on for a third win of the campaign.

But Arteixo’s fortunes were about to turn.

The Turnaround: Late Goals Shift the Narrative

Long stretches of the second half saw Noia defending their slender lead, their discipline tested as Arteixo gathered momentum. It wasn’t until the 83rd minute that the tension fractured: Arteixo, undeterred, drew level thanks to determined attacking play, again with the individual scorer’s name unknown but the impact undeniable. San Lázaro, long a fortress for Noia, suddenly felt the threat of reversal.

In a stunning twist, Arteixo struck once more in the 88th minute, this time thrusting themselves ahead. The goal, born of persistent pressure and perhaps the fatigue of a Noia side who had expended much in their defensive duties, was a dagger to local hopes and a lifeline to Arteixo’s season.

The closing moments saw desperate attempts from Noia to salvage a point, but their creativity was choked by Arteixo’s renewed urgency. At full-time, the scoreboard read 3-2 in favor of the visitors—a result that reversed both recent trends and the emotional momentum of the opening weeks of Group 1.

Context: Form, Frustrations, and the Shifting Table

Noia’s ascendancy had been anchored by narrow wins and a dominant home display against Barbadás, their 4-1 victory on September 21 suggesting a team capable of scoring in bursts. Yet, two losses littered their previous five outings, exposing vulnerabilities Arteixo would exploit. The defeat on Sunday leaves Noia stranded at 7 points from five matches, holding to 9th in the table and searching for the consistency needed to climb further.

Arteixo’s struggles have been acute: four matches without a win, a run bookended by a heavy loss to Alondras and a home defeat to Villalbés, threatened to drag them deeper into the relegation conversation. Sunday’s comeback—their first win since the opening day—elevates them to 7 points and 16th in the standings. More than just three points, the result injects belief into a campaign that had drifted perilously close to crisis.

Head-to-Head and What Comes Next

While historical data between these two sides is sparse in official records, the narrative of this match—a contest marked by shifting leads and late drama—could inaugurate a new edge to their rivalry, particularly as both chase stability in the season’s middle third.

For Noia, the loss punctuates a pattern: promise undermined by fleeting lapses. Their ability to capitalize on early leads will be a focal point in training, knowing that Group 1’s parity means every dropped point has consequences.

Arteixo, meanwhile, will carry the confidence gained from this remarkable turnaround. The late goals suggest an attacking potency and resolve that have been absent in recent weeks. With the specter of relegation still looming, they must build on this momentum, treating Sunday not as a rescue but as a revival.

As the crowd filtered out of San Lázaro into the Galician night, the conversation was less about missed chances and more about a league where fortunes can be reversed in just five minutes. The story of Arteixo’s comeback—written with goals in the 83rd and 88th minutes—signals not just a shift in this match, but a signal to Group 1: nothing is settled yet, and belief, as ever, remains the strongest currency.