With competence (and some fear), Benfica reached the isolated lead of the I Liga 2022-23, with 12 points (two more than Sp. Braga), after beating Paços de Ferreira (3-2) at the Estádio da Luz, in the adjustment of the championship calendar. Today and for the first time Roger Schmidt’s team started from behind, but they knew how to react and turn the score around – goals from Neres, João Mário and Gonçalo Ramos – despite suffering a double from N”Dri coffee.
Given the 12 absences for this match (among injuries and suspensions and reinforcements not registered on the original date of the 3rd game), Paços de Ferreira appeared in Luz with an alternate eleven and with only five substitutes. Coach César Peixoto, sent off on the last day of the field, had to guide the team from the bench and saw the beavers enter the field well. In the 13th minute, N”Dri Koffi almost scored, but Grimaldo cut across the line and dodged Pacense’s goal in a good transitional move from the visitors.
The resilience of the beavers was broken, although it took a while before the brutal difference in arguments became visible. Bah, the only change to the usual eleven by Schmidt’s choice, gave Gonçalo Ramos a chance to bring the eagles forward on the scoreboard, but the number 88 missed the shot… A move that served as a wake-up call. With a slow entry and an obvious lack of coordination between sectors, the red team stepped up the pressure on the beavers and at 31 minutes Otamendi, who returned to the team and returned to wear the captain’s armband, still put the ball in the goal , but the offer was declared void due to offside of Rafa, who had provided the assist.
The beaver’s defensive wall was still very cohesive, and Antunes moved forward to provide a little help. The Paços de Ferreira captain took advantage of a cut to ‘shoot’ Vlachodimos’ goal at the entrance to the area. The ball also got a deflection on N”Dri Koffi before going in – Benfica conceded the first goal of the championship. And there was no time for shock waves. The red team reacted immediately, scoring two goals in six minutes. David Neres equalized and João Mário (after hitting the post) turned the score around before half time and successfully charged a penalty.
If the first half was lively, with few stops and good playing time – a very popular discussion in Portuguese football – the second half started with another disallowed goal against the eagles (Bah’s bid, declared void by VAR). But the red offensive was too intense and strong for the fragile beavers and Gonçalo Ramos scored the point and made a nice move through the benfiquista attack. It was just a matter of time before the young forward’s VAR certification to celebrate his sixth goal of the season.
Until the end, there were opportunities for Benfica to increase the advantage, with Paços failing to scout the back of the advanced red defense line and shrink the marker. Again by N”Dri Koffi. The shock didn’t stop Benfica from taking a 100% victory, with eight wins in eight games (4 in the I Liga and 4 in the Champions League qualifier).
A triumph in memory of “ti Emílio”, who died on Tuesday at the age of 101: Emílio Andrade Júnior was Benfica’s number 1 partner and owner of the restaurant Tia Matilde winery, where Eusebio had lunch every day.
Source: DN
