CF Os Belenenses 1-1 UD Santarem | Portuguese Liga 3 | May 2, 2026

CF Os Belenenses and UD Santarem played out a 1-1 draw in a lively Portuguese Liga 3 encounter on Saturday evening at the Estadio do Restelo. The result leaves both sides sharing the spoils after a match that featured early drama and a spirited second-half response from the visitors.

Match Overview

The home side started with purpose and took the lead inside the first 15 minutes. A swift attacking move saw Belenenses carve open the Santarem defense, with a clinical finish from close range giving the goalkeeper no chance. The early goal settled the hosts, who dominated possession for much of the first half.

UD Santarem, however, grew into the game as the first half progressed. They began to find their rhythm in midfield and created a few half-chances before the break. Despite Belenenses' early advantage, the visitors remained organized and patient.

Second Half and Equalizer

The second half saw a shift in momentum. UD Santarem came out with renewed intensity, pressing higher and forcing mistakes from the Belenenses backline. Their persistence paid off in the 58th minute when a well-struck shot from outside the box found the bottom corner, leveling the score at 1-1.

The goal injected energy into the contest. Both teams pushed for a winner in the final half-hour, with end-to-end action keeping the crowd engaged. Belenenses came close to regaining the lead when a header from a corner struck the crossbar in the 73rd minute. Santarem also had a late chance, but their striker fired wide from a promising position.

Standings and Season Context

The draw keeps both CF Os Belenenses and UD Santarem in the mid-to-lower reaches of the Liga 3 table, but the point is arguably more valuable for the visitors given the early deficit. For Belenenses, the dropped points at home are a missed opportunity to build a winning run.

Portuguese Liga 3 continues to be a fiercely competitive division, and results like this underline the unpredictability of the league. Both teams will take positives—Belenenses from their strong start, and Santarem from their resilient second-half performance and ability to come from behind on the road.