Benfica’s slim victory in the classic in the seventh round of the I League ultimately also rewarded FC Porto’s defensive attitude, which was reduced to ten players within twenty minutes of play. In addition to losing the match (1-0), the Porto team also temporarily lost the lead in the championship, which is now in the hands of the champion, because Sporting only plays on Saturdays (in Faro, at 8:30 PM, Sport TV) . Di María was decisive again and showed that he can (and must) play with David Neres.
A year ago, in a classic on Friday (October 21), the Dragons hosted the Eagles and were forced to play with ten in the 27th minute after Eustáquio had seen two yellow cards in three minutes and lost 1-0. Today the film repeated itself in Luz. Porto’s players were one down after 19 minutes, with the eviction of Fábio Cardoso in the 19th minute (equalling Secretary FC Porto’s fastest eviction in classics against Benfica) and were eventually defeated and also 1–0.
The move marked the game. A counter-attack by Benfica, Neres and Fábio Cardoso split the move and the Brazilian fell after a crash. There was no defender left, but the winger was not in line with the goal. At first glance it seemed exaggerated, but after consultation with the VAR, João Pinheiro retained the straight red card and ruined Conceição’s strategy. Going to the match without Pepe (he didn’t even travel to Lisbon) and being without Fábio Cardoso, the coach was soon forced to launch the young Zé Pedro. The sacrifice was Romário Baró, who had been the surprise in the starting eleven.
It was kind of like restarting the game. Benfica had started better. As soon as João Pinheiro blew the whistle, Di María signaled that he was going to Benfica. After that, the Dragons had more ball, but they chewed it up too much in midfield and the match reached the 30th minute without any chance to score. After another scare – David Carmo was about to be sent off, but VAR even removed the yellow card – the Porto team stabilized emotionally and forced Turbin to show that he was not nervous at all for his first classic. If he prevented Taremi’s goal in the 30th minute, he prevented Pepê from giving FC Porto the lead in the 40th minute.
The match started in the final minutes of the first half. Despite not taking advantage of the more room to play, the Reds thwarted a rebound from Diogo Costa, who in the absence of Pepe and Marcano captained the Blues and Whites in the 254th classic in the history of Portuguese football.
Poste and Diogo Costa defeated by Di María
With João Mário on the bench and Rafa uninspired, João Neves gave another recital on how well he handled the ball. And the second half required patience in the movement of the ball to force the opponents to wear out quickly… concentrated on the last twenty square meters, in a kind of barrier that protected the goal. Destroying Benfica building and FC Porto… Destroying Benfica building and FC Porto… Destroying Benfica building and FC Porto… the scene repeated itself for several minutes.
At 53′ the post worked with Diogo Costa to prevent the national champions from scoring. A fine technical effort by Orkun Kokçu, who set the stands with more than 60,000 Benfica fans in motion. Luz shouted for a goal, but the Porto goalkeeper insisted on being deaf and keeping his gloves warm. In the 56th minute, the move that proves that David Neres and Di María can play together was stopped by Diogo Costa.
By that time, the young goalkeeper was the best on the field and the suffocation of Benfica was such that Galeno, forced into defensive missions, celebrated corners… It was always possible to breathe a little, but it solved the problem does not end and Benfica achieves the goal He so sought. The move was stamped by the D&D duo. David Neres moved in, crossed wide and Di María shot first time with his left foot. The ball still went off Wendell and Diogo Costa, on the counter foot, could do nothing to prevent the goal.
The Argentine world champion already scored in the Super Cup classic, which Benfica won in August and scored again for the blue and white team yesterday, completing the best start to the season of his career, with five goals in seven goals. Yesterday’s victory was worth three points and the lead (albeit provisional) in the championship for Benfica, who won another classic in Luz after five years.
Source: DN
