FC Arouca secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over Vitoria Guimaraes in the Portuguese Primera Liga on February 8, 2026. In a back-and-forth encounter at the Estádio Municipal de Arouca, the home side emerged victorious with a late winner, claiming a significant scalp against one of the league's traditional powers. Arouca started brightly and took an early lead, but Vitoria Guimaraes responded with two quick goals to turn the game on its head before halftime. The home side showed tremendous character in the second half, equalizing through a well-worked team move and then pushing for a winner. The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when Arouca's substitute forward pounced on a defensive mistake to slot home, sending the home fans into delirium. The match was not without controversy, as Vitoria Guimaraes had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the first half. The three points are a massive boost for Arouca's hopes of a top-half finish, while the defeat is a setback for Vitoria Guimaraes' European qualification ambitions. The Arouca manager hailed his team's never-say-die attitude, while the Vitoria coach was critical of his side's defensive lapses. The starting XIs highlighted the attacking intent that led to a five-goal spectacle.