Four days before it meets Maccabi Haifa in the opening group stage of the Champions League, this evening (Friday) Benfica achieved a particularly dramatic victory in the Portuguese league – 1:2 over tiny Vizla, thanks to a winning goal scored 12 minutes (!) into added time.
Roger Schmidt fielded his strong, star-studded line-up, but it was the visitors who stunned in the 20th minute, when a deadly burst ended with Montenegrin Milotin Osmaic’s inbounds kick. Later on, of course, she pressured Nifaka in her search for equality and was much more dangerous, and the pressure did bear fruit. In the 76th minute, David Ners provided a brilliant individual performance and sent a great kick outside the box straight to the connections.
The host stepped up and hoped to complete a turnaround, and precisely after Gonzalo Ramos received a second yellow and was sent off two minutes into added time, this turnaround came. A dubious touch in the box deep into added time gave Benfica a penalty kick from 11 meters, which Joao Mario sent in. The star went out of his way when he celebrated with the crowd, took off his shirt, he also received a second yellow and was sent off, but it didn’t make any difference.
Benfica is now 5-for-5 in Portugal, counting nine consecutive victories in all competitions.