Benfica’s season is coming to an end, there are no more titles to win, but the “reds” still have something to play for. This Saturday, the “eagles” reinforced their candidacy for second place with a 4-1 victory over Moreirense, in Luz, now having four more points than Sporting (who have two games less) and remaining four points behind FC Porto. It was not an easy victory – the “canons” created problems. It was fair, but it was only calm in the last minutes.
What Benfica had achieved a week ago in Alvalade, they would have to defend in Luz, maintaining second place at a distance from yet another defeat by Sporting. For the penultimate game of the season at home, Mourinho changed the attacking three – Lukebakio, Rafa and Pavlidis returned, Prestianni, Schjelderup and Ivanovic left – and made a forced change in defense – Silva instead of Araújo. The “red” coach would have been far from imagining that it would be this change that would set the tone for what would be a very interesting first half.
In the second minute, in a moment of “technique strength”, António Silva advanced into the area, leaving half of the Moreirense team behind and leaving the ball very round for Leandro Barreiro, even with a defender on his back, to push for 1-0. Entry with a goal, impossible for Benfica and a nightmare start for Moreira de Cónegos’ team. For teams that come with a purely defensive mentality, it would be a death sentence, but Moreirense is not one of those teams.
And the team led by Vasco Botelho da Costa came very close to equalizing in the 7th minute. Following a very well-worked corner, with a low pass from Diogo Travassos, he sent it low to the first post, the ball fell to Kiko Bondoso, who, on the edge of the area, had a strong shot that Trubin responded well to. The play continued and the Ukrainian goalkeeper still had to deal with a dangerous header from Gilberto Batista and a shot from Alanzinho.
It was a serious warning for Benfica, which they were forced to take to avoid taking risks. Shortly after the scare in their goal, the “reds” were close to the second goal, with a header from António Silva that hit the post, and they approached André Ferreira’s goal again, thanks to an acceleration by Lukebakio who, after passing through two defenders from Minho, shot wide. Completing a period of great offensive brilliance, Pavlidis made a bad decision after a great pass from Richard Rios.
At 26′, Benfica decided to “offer” the draw to Moreirense. The “reds” were in an offensive moment (a corner) when André Ferreira got the ball. In a moment of great lucidity, the Minho goalkeeper took the lead, allowing Travassos to run, who ended up with the ball after some great nonsense from Dahl. The full-back on loan from Sporting, one of the team’s best scorers, faced Trubin and scored the equalizer.
This time, Benfica had a quick reaction. At 29′, Lukebakio created an imbalance on the right, causing confusion in the small area, with the ball falling to Barreiro. The Luxembourger took the touch to the area where Ríos was and the Colombian gave Benfica back in control of the game – André Ferreira did not approach the move well. It was an advantage that could not be discussed due to what the “reds” had done during the first half, but there was no justification for the difference to be greater – the Minho team were showing that they were a team with good principles and intention. The difference was minimal and there was a whole second half to play.
The game had fewer goals in the second half. Benfica seemed satisfied with their advantage and not even with Mourinho refreshing the attack in the 58th minute – the three starters left – there was a click for more dangerous approaches. The best the Reds managed was a header from Dedic at the top of the post, after a good cross from Dahl.
As long as the game was at a minimum difference, Benfica could not be rested. The minutes passed, Benfica managed to keep Moreirense away from their area, while maintaining pressure on the Minho team’s ball. And at 89′, Mourinho finally breathed a sigh of relief. Moreirense made a mistake in the transition, Ríos got the ball, distributed it to Ivanovic and the Croatian reassured all the Benfica fans in the stadium. Even more so, when, after 90′, Ivanovic responded well after a cross from Dedic.
