Ndoye marked his return with the only goal as Guimaraes beat Feirense 1-0 in a training match at the Academy on Tuesday. The Senegalese forward struck in the 2nd minute after a corner from Alanzinho, a tidy start that at least gives Guimaraes something positive to carry into the week.
Ndoye's stop-start spell
The goal matters because Ndoye has spent much of the autumn interrupted. He had been out of Tiago Margarido's options after a two-match suspension following a red card against Académico de Viseu on matchday 6, and he had also recovered from a muscle problem that only allowed him back into the squad last matchday against Mitchell van der Gaag's team.
His season numbers still look modest. Ndoye has only one goal this season, scored on matchday 2 in the 2-3 defeat at Alvalade against Sporting, and he has made seven appearances in 428 minutes. That is not the return of a player flying, but it is a clean enough reminder that Guimaraes still have a forward who can get on the end of something early when he is available.
What Guimaraes get from the goal
The broader league setting is hardly comfortable. Guimaraes are 13th in the Primeira Liga with 8 points after 9 matches, so any attacking spark is welcome before the next stretch of league fixtures. A training-ground win does not solve the bigger issues on its own, but it does give the attack a small lift and gives Ndoye a reason to think the scoring touch is still there.
Guimaraes now move on with that result in their pocket, and the forward's next chance to back it up comes against Gil Vicente.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
