2023-09-17 00:52:08
Benfica scored their fourth consecutive victory in the Portuguese league this Saturday after beating Vizela (1-2) in a match in which the Roger Schmidt They realized their superiority in most of the match.
The Vizelenses came to this challenge with great expectations after a day in which they had triumphed against Gil Vicente and were also playing at home, in their stadium in Caldas de Vizela, in the north of Portugal.
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However, those from Lisbon had an ace up their sleeve, the center half João Neveswho literally was ‘the owner of the ball’ in this match and kept the ball moving.
Benfica wanted to make it clear from the beginning who was in charge and scored the first goal in the 9th minute thanks to a shot from the Croatian Petar Musa in the heart of the German’s goal Fabijan Buntic, who, as a youth player, was in his one-day international for Croatia.
Benfica advances early
Musa did not waste Rafa Silva’s pass in a Benfica counterattack to open the scoring.
The Benfiquistas, who today wore the white second kit, pressed, were sticky and made everyone desperate. Bunticwho saw how the ball approached the area every few minutes.
Perhaps the clearest opportunity for Vizela was in the 19th minute when Samuel Essede He tried to finish from outside the area with a shot that went over the side of the crossbar.
Di María increases the advantage from a free kick
Twenty minutes later the second goal came with a direct free kick from the Argentine Angel Di Mariaafter the referee Luís Godinho signaled a foul against Rafael Bustamante, from Vizela, against Rafa Silva.
The former Real Madrid player made an impeccable shot that ended up inside the net, without the goalkeeper, covered by the barrier, moving from his spot. It is the Argentine’s fourth goal in the first five days of the Portuguese championship.
The second half began with a similar tone with Benfica creating numerous scoring opportunities, playing short and very dynamic, barely letting the rival get close to the area.
It had only been a few minutes since the beginning when Godihno had to stop the game due to an injury Nicolás Otamendi, of Benfica, after a clash with Findalthough it resumed shortly after with the Argentine recovered.
In the 59th minute the Vizela coach, the Spanish Pablo Villardecided to make the first changes of the match, replacing wingers Saem Lacava and Nuno Moreira by Dylan Saint-Louis and Alberto Soro, who has arrived at Vizela on a season-long loan from Granada.
Vizela shortens penalty distances
And after a while the Vizelenses’ goal finally arrived thanks to a penalty for a foul Fredrik Aursnesfrom Benfica, who after a dangerous tackle on Samuel Essende received the yellow card.
He took care of transform the penalty into a goal Samuwho made a shot with his left foot next to the base of the post.
The goal was a catharsis for the northerners, who faced the game with renewed vigor and tried to nullify the Benfiquista threat, which tried to get close to the goal again and again to end the match.
After this victory on the fifth day of the league, Benfica is second in the general classification with Porto, in the lead, one point away and waiting for Sporting CP, fourth in the classification, to battle tomorrow against Moreirense
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