NEW JERSEY, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira sought to ease pressure on struggling forward Vitor Roque following the Brazilian side's 2-0 win over Al Ahly at the FIFA Club World Cup on Thursday.

Roque failed to make an impact against the Egyptian side and was replaced at halftime by Argentine Jose Manuel Lopez. The latter added sharpness to Palmeiras' attack, scoring the team's second goal with a clinical finish after a swift counterattack.

"We have to be patient so that we can get the best out of Roque," Ferreira told a post-match news conference.

"He has different characteristics to our other forwards. But I'm happy with him. Sometimes players receive a lot of criticism and they suffer as a result. Roque did what he had to do and gave his all."

Roque, 20, has scored just three goals in 21 appearances for Palmeiras in all competitions since joining from Barcelona in February in a deal reportedly worth 25 million euros.

Ferreira said he was satisfied with his team's overall performance at MetLife Stadium but noted there was room for improvement.

"We didn't play as well as we did in the opening match against Porto," he said. "But in certain areas we were able to do things a little better. We know that we have the technical ability to compete and everyone knows their role. That's one of our strengths."

Palmeiras' final group match will be against Inter Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Monday. Both teams need only a draw to progress to the knockout phase. ■