Wrapping up a great week
This weekend capped off a great week for Benfica. Thursday saw them progress through into the quarter-final round of the Europa League after beating Marseille with a last gasp win. The first half seemed to tip in Benfica’s favor with most of the threats coming from them but it remained scoreless going into halftime. The second half saw many opportunities, including a few near misses from Angel Di Maria, Oscar Cardozo, and Javier Saviola. Yet they were still scoreless until the 70th minute when Marseille scored. A freekick was taken and it was seemed to be taken care of but Julio Cesar could not safely get the ball and it was passed back to Marseille’s captain Niang and put into the back of the net, the home team in front. For many this would be a blow but Benfica managed to battle back, tying the score 5 minutes later with a long range shot from defender Maxi Pereira. This was a massive lift to the team and would give them a chance to go through, but they would still need another goal to progress. Well that would happen, thanks to substitute Alan Kardec. It would be in the dying minutes of the game but a freekick from Pablo Aimar wouldn’t be properly cleared from the Marseille defense and Kardec would smash it in, sending the fans and team into a frenzy knowing they had sealed the win in the 91st minute. Not only that, but Kardec’s goal would be the 100th of the season.
The draw for the quarter-finals would be the next day with Benfica drawing Liverpool. This is a tough draw, with both teams having done fairly well in the competition. Liverpool managed to beat Rubin Kazan and Lille to make it though. While they have had a a rough season they are not to be underestimated and Benfica will know that when they meet next month.
On Sunday the team beat Porto to win the Carlsberg Cup for the second year in a row. Both teams started off threatening but Benfica would go ahead with a 10 minute goal from Ruben Amorim. It was a long range shot and Porto’s keeper Nuno had a hand on it before it bobbled and made its way into the back of the net. It was an unlikely goal but it was still a goal and Benfica were now given an advantage. Porto seemed to try and change their plan to try and recover from the goal, and while they seemed to try and create chances, there were never any real threats on Quim.
Just moments before half time a challenge on Carlos Martins would lead to a freekick 32 meters from goal. Martins would take it himself, the freekick gliding past the wall and curling to beat Nuno and it would be Benfica’s second goal on the evening. giving Benfica a great cushion to take into half time. From then on Benfica would hold onto their lead and it seemed they would glide into the win. A 90th minute goal from Oscar Cardozo would be the final nail in the coffin and a perfect way to end the game for Benfica. Ruben Amorim had a shot skim past the keeper and seem to go wide but Cardozo was there to toe into into the net. Moments later the game would be over and Benfica would win the trophy.
The celebrations would begin, the team overjoyed to win their first serious trophy of the season and give them a boost for this upcoming weekend, a game against 2nd place Braga. If Braga wins, it will all be tied up once again. If Benfica can push through and grab the win it will be one step closer to the title. Obviously you can’t say just from that that they will win the title but it would be a major boost and give them a 6 point lead, something that could possibly widen in the final stretch towards the end of the season.
Until then, the boys will be back in training, with a bit of a rest as there are no European games this week. Congrats to the boys and here is to another win this weekend.
