Benfica won the Women’s Futsal Super Cup for the seventh time this Sunday, beating Nun’Álvares 4-3 in the final, played at the Centro de Congressos e Desportos de Matosinhos, 4-3, in the penalty shoot-out.
In a very even game, albeit with a slight advantage over Benfica, the Reds, the national champions, took the lead via Fifó in the seventh minute, but Nun’Álvares, winner of the Portuguese Cup last season, equaled even in the first half, by Ballona, at 16.
The result was tied until the end of regular time and overtime, with Benfica winning 4-3 on penalties.
Marta Costa was the ‘incarnate’ figure as she took to the field for penalties and defended the last two, the first to tie in the tiebreak and the last to deliver the win, after Fifó had opened the scoring, after seven minutes, and Balona is right (16) in regulation time.
The champions sought revenge for two defeats to the Fafenses in the Portuguese Cup and League Cup last season, with Fifó taking the spotlight on his return to the Eagles with a shot to the post after three minutes.
The Portugal international had no half measures and at seven minutes she bent from right to centre, found space and fired hard from the top corner, with no chance for team-mate Maria Odete.
The match was intense, worthy of a final, despite Nun’Álvares struggling to create danger, at a time when Maria Odete was unable to extend the lead by blocking shots from Angélica and Fifó.
The Fafenses, however, achieved an equality the first time they put Ana Catarina to the test, after Cátia Morgado forced the ‘guard’ to defend for a corner, on the attack, Loira Balona discovered at the far post, who only had to touch it. , which tied the game before the break.
On their return from halftime, Loira and Balona were close to signing the comeback, a strong entry that served to wake up the benfiquistas, who added several chances from then on to return in favor.
Most of the attempts were stopped by Maria Odete, although the eagles showed a marked lack of effectiveness as Inês Fernandes and Angélica missed two open scoring chances, two minutes apart.
Until the end of regular time, two saves by Ana Catarina stood out, dodging Balona and Pisko’s goals, while Maria Odete defended Inês Fernandes’ attempt.
In the second phase, the greater fatigue of Nun’Álvares’ players was evident, caused by the lower rotation of the substitution bench, despite Pisko’s threat in the first minute in an individual game.
On the other goal, Maria Odete was inspired and again remembered Fifo and Angélica. The second extra period brought nothing of relevance, except for the physical breakdowns of the players on both sides, and the decision went to penalties.
In the penalty shootout, Marta Costa occupied the Eagles’ goal and played a key role in the win, after a run of three conversions for each side Sara Ferreira hit the ‘iron’ but the ‘guardian’ Benfica kept the shot from de Loira, and after Angélica gave Lisbon the lead, Marta Costa again defended Balona’s shot, taking Benfica’s seventh win in the league.
Source: DN
