Benfica 2 v 1 PSG

Benfica 2 v 1PSG

After having witnessed Braga beat Liverpool 1-0 and their fiercest rivals FC Porto grab a 0-1 victory in Moscow against CSKA, Benfica needed a win to complete the Portuguese hat-trick in the Europa League.

The French side PSG were in no mood to let Benfica play their all out attacking football, with Manager Kombouare stating that the team would be happy top defend and catch Benfica on the counter attack.

The eagles got the game well underway when Gaitan tested Edel with a shot just outside the area, calling for an acrobatic save.

Benfica then went on a defending duty with Erdnic twisting and turning the defence in and out and requiring Roberto do pull a save out of the blue.

But it was PSG that on the 15^th minute found the defence out of shape, with Sidnei having drifted away from his man, allowed Luyindula to slip in between Coentrao and beat Roberto on his Left side.

Benfica kept the constant attack towards PSG goal, with mainly the final pass failing them, it was a night where the ball was put on the right and the attacker went left, and what looked like a real misunderstanding between all.

At the back for the duo of Sidnei and Luisao, it was also to be a case of mistaken partnership and communication. With both going for the same ball and failing to header it on the 16^th minute, Ednic was found at the far post and from the cross, he had a shot, which hit the post  and Sidnei magaged to to just get his head on the ball for a corner.

Benfica were tested and frustrated for a long periods of time and their constant attack meant that the back four was usually left bare.  PSG seemed to find the easy pass in between and over Luisao and Sidnei, with Coentrao usually tracking back from his trips forward.

Benfica went on a better run, going over the bar with shots from Cardozo and Carlos Martins. The equalizer came on the 42^nd minute when Carlos Martins chipped the ball over, Maxi Pereira slipped in behind Armand and placed it over the out coming Edel for the 1-1.

The second half was a similar affair, but Benfica seemed more on top of the game, but still finding it hard to convert the passing football into goals.

Saviola was brought down in the area by Makonda but the official waved it off.

But it was to be 10 minutes from the end, when Aimar played Jara, who opened up his body, and from just inside the D beat Edel to seal a victory.

 

A night that the entire Portuguese entry all came away with a win, and according to my fellow Twitter @PaulSeery, such results mean Portugal will have 3 teams in the European Champions League f9r the 12/13 season.

On another note, Benfica looked a team with a good attacking squad, but the likes of Luisao and Sidnei will need to sort themselves out, with the latter needing to step up on all occasions not the odd one. The forward players in Cardozo and Saviola, although two different players in size and technique, could benefit the squad if only they actually played off each other with a better understanding of their movements. 

Braga 2 v Benfica 1

Golf balls and off the bench refereeing decisions,

Benfica have lost their first match in a long while, it came at the hands of SC Braga and at a time when Benfica needed the three points to keep the pressure on FC Porto.

From the off Benfica seemed a team capable of getting a good result, but Braga had other intentions, throwing it all at Benfica.

On the 24th minute Saviola made it 1-0 when a free kick from Carlos Martins was badly handed by Artur, Saviola pounced to score.

The key moment for Braga’s game came on the 40th minute, when Javi Garcia was sent off after Alan fell to the floor claiming to have been punched in the throat, and with the Braga bench and officials all in agreement (and probably one made before the game) saw the red card routinely raised by Xistra. The resulting free kick from the side line saw Hugo Viana lob Roberto whom was way off his line.

The crowd egged on by the stadium announcer lost all control, and on a dry night, it seemed to rain golf balls and coins, many hitting Benfica players.

Benfica took to the pitch in the second half, with Saviola coming off and Airton coming in.

It seemed most attacks created Benfica just could not find the opening needed.

When the chances finally came, Cardozo and Coentrao were the two players who danced in front of goal but failed to convert.

Mossoro then ended Benfica’s night with a sweet right footer that again went over Roberto to make it 2-1.

In a finally summary: The game was played from the bench onwards, Braga had all intentions to get a result here, and pretty obvious from the crowd’s handling of Golf Balls, bad refereeing and play acting.. With Benfica also having a perfectly good goal disallowed for offside.

SC Braga v SL Benfica match review

Benfica take on Braga today in week 22 of the Liga ZON Sagres.

With FC Porto opening up a whooping eleven point gap having beaten Vitoria Guimaraes on Saturday night, the pressure is on Benfica to get all 3 points against an inform Europa League Braga team.

Jorge Jesus has called up 20 players to travel north for the game. With Pablo Aimar injured and Nico Gaitan not looking at his best physically, Jesus has brought in Cesar Peixoto, Airton and Jose Fernandez to cover all fronts.

The manager claims there are no pressures to get all three points, but at the same time he has made sure that all players in the squad are at their peak in terms of fitness and mental awareness.
With all said, Jesus should gamble on the full eleven that started the match Vs Sporting in the midweek cup victory.
On the Braga front, the team is doing well in Europe but seem to be struggling in the domestic league, placed a lowly 8th compared to last season’s second place, and with a game against Liverpool midweek, they might focus on their strengths.

Benfica v Sporting BWIN Cup

Benfica 2 Sporting 1

Not long has passed since the last meeting and Benfica have met their fiercest rivals again for the Lisbon derby, this time at the Estadio da Luz a couple miles down the road from Alvalade, but this time it was to be for the League Cup.

A good night it was for a Benfica team what went into this game with 17 wins in 17 games.
Sporting have endured a miserable period in the league and Europe, having lost against Benfica a fortnight ago, gone out to Rangers in Europe, followed by the resignation of their manager Paulo Sergio. New Coach Couceiro has not started well, losing to Nacional away in Madeira by 1 goal in a foggy pitch.

But Sporting’s misery is nowt of Benfica’s Concern, each one tides up their own house, and Benfica surely made sure they kept Sporting at margin.

Even with Sporting opening the score on the 21st minute when, Helder Postiga lunged at Roberto’s attempt to grab the ball, only for the Portuguese forward to smash it into the goal.


On the 32nd Minute Benfica were awarded a Penalty after Polga was judged to have held on to Javi Garcia in the area.. Oscar Cardozo stepped up to convert, only for Rui Patricio to second guess the spot and save it, out for a corner. With the corner taken Cardozo rose above all, with a powerful header made it 1-1.


The second half was a game well fought, Benfica pressed the Sporting goal, sporting came close a few times, in the dying minutes, Sporting forced Roberto into 3 good saves.

On the 91st minute Javi Garcia found himself in the area after attempts from Benfica to score and Sporting to clear, and with no hesitation Javi made it 2-1.


Benfica will now meet either Pacos de Ferreira or Nacional for the Final on the 23rd of April in Coimbra.

CARREGA BENFICA

Portuguese Third Division Grounds (northen section)

Here is a guide to some of the grounds of the Portuguese 3rd Division A (Northern Division).
Portuguese football clubs as you might want to know differ in a big way to the English clubs from lower league to EPL.

As you go down the list you will notice not a lot of clubs end of start with the letters (FC) and this is because they offer along with the ones who have (FC) in their names different sports, from Cycling to Running, Swimming, Archery, Swimming etc...
Portugal apart from producing great footballers also have great sports such as Handball, Hockey (roller Blades), Basketball and obviously Futsal and Beach Football.
Many grounds have a complex to provide all these sports, you would wonder why the grounds are big if not a lot of support goes out of the big 3 (Benfica, Porto, Sporting), its because they do accommodate from time to time other sports and events such as concerts.

A 3rd Division or even Lower is more involved with its own community it provides a diversity that i think miss in the English game.
We see many grounds in England being shut until there is a game and nothing else goes on around it, well most Stadiums in Portugal have always something on from a Hockey match to a basketball game.

This is the case in many European countries and i guess it offers a bit more then 1 sport for the nation to enjoy thus keeping a lot of young people entertained and appreciating the values of sport!

And going by the Initial picture at this level the grounds are not rusty at this Amature Level.

Enjoy and comment! I will add Youtube links to some fo the clubs games and also other info!

F C Amares

Stadium: Parque Desp Engº José Carlos Macedo

Location: Amares- Braga

Capacity 5000

http://www.fcamares.pt/

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Clube Caçadores das Taipas

Stadium-Campo Montinho
Loaction: Caldas das Paipas-Guimaraes
Capacity: 7122

http://www.cctaipas.com/
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Associação Desportiva de Esposende

Stadium: Estádio Padre Sá Pereira
Town: Esposende
Capacity: 5000

http://www.ade-esposende.com/

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Clube de Futebol de Fão

Stadium: Complexo Desportivo Clube de Futebol de Fão
Town: Fão
Capacity: 5000

http://www.cffao.pt/

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Associação Desportiva «Os Limianos»

Town: Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo
 Stadium: Campo do Cruzeiro
Capacity: 2500

http://www.limianos.com/

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Sport Clube Maria da Fonte

Town: Povoa do Lanhoso, Braga
Stadium: Campo do Moinhos Novos
Capacity: 1500

http://mariadafonte.pt.vu/
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Sport Clube Melgacense

Town: Melgaco, Viana do Castelo
Stadium: Centros de Estagio de Melgacos
Capacity: 1000

http://www.melgacense.com/

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Sport Clube de Mirandela

Town: Mirandela, Braganca
Stadium: Estadio Sao Sebastiao
Capacity: 7000

http://sportclubemirandela.com.sapo.pt/

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Santa Maria Futebol Clube

Town: Galegos Sta Maria, Barcelos, Braga
Stadium: Estadio da Devesa
Capacity: 4000

http://www.smfcv.com/ ---------------------------------------------

Sport Clube Valenciano

Town: Valenca do Minho, Viana do Castelo
Stadium Name: Dr Lorenco Raimundo
Capacity: 2000

http://www.scvalenciano.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------

Sport Clube Vianense

Town: Viana do Castelo
Stadium: Dr Jose de Matos
Capacity: 3000

http://www.vianense.pt/ --------------------------------------------------------

Vieira Sport Clube

Town: Vieria do Minho, Braga
Stadium: Campo Municipal Vieria do Minho
Capacity: 2500

http://www.vieirasc.com/

Portuguese Cup 3rd Round

The 3^rd round of the Portuguese cup will take place on the weekend of 16^th and 17^th of October which will see many of the top league clubs take on 3^rd and second division clubs.

The previous week we saw the League Cup first leg where some of the lower teams upset the big boys, Stay tuned for some upsets

Here is the equivalent of the Portuguese league to the English Leagues

*(LZS) Liga Zon Sagres ( Portuguese Prem)

*(LO) Liga Orangina (Portuguese Championship)

*(2^nd Div) II Liga (League 2)

*(3^rd Div) III Liga (Conference)

As you will see the difference is big in Portuguese football. In England the conference will offer a better set up then in many Portuguese 3^rd division, which if going down in order would be equivalent of league 2 in england.

The 2^nd  Division is divided into 3 zones (north/Central/South) and 3^rd league into districts (8 Serie’s) giving it more of a Ryman type of set up.

The Matches are as follow:

Matches taking place on the 17^th October 2010

-Gil Vicente (LO) 2 - 4 V. Setúbal (LZS)

-U. Leiria (LZS) 1 - 2 U. Madeira (2^nd Div)

-Estoril (LO) 1 – 2 Sporting (LZS)

-FC Porto (LZS) 4 - 1 Limianos (3^rd Div)

-Benfica (LZS) 5 –  1 Arouca (LO)
-Rio Ave (LZS) 4  - 1 Estrela Vendas Novas (3^rd Div)

Matches taking place on the 17^th October 2010

-Paços Ferreira (LZN) 3 - 1 S. João Ver (3^rd Div)

-Lagoa (2^nd Div) 0-0p Torreense (2^nd Div)

-Mondinense(3^rd Div) e2-1 Coimbrões(2^nd Div)

-Santa Maria (3^rd Div) 1-0 Penalva do Castelo (3^rd Div)

-Ribeirão (2^nd Div) 2-0 Belenenses (LO)

-Sertanense (2^nd Div) 0-0p Olhanense (LZS)

-Naval (LZS) 0-2 Marítimo (LZS)

-Varzim (LO) p–p Gondomar (2^nd Div)

-Bombarralense (3^rd Div) 2–1Louletano (2^nd Div)

-Portimonense (LZS) 2–0 Cinfães(3^rd Div)

-Carregado (2^nd Div)  p0-0 Fátima (LO)

-Atlético (2^nd Div) 3-1 Macedo Cavaleiros (2^nd Div)

-Pinhalnovense (2^nd Div) 3–0 Fafe (2^nd Div)

-Sp. Espinho (2^nd Div) 4–1 Pontassolense (2^nd Div)

-Tirsense (2^nd Div) 5–1 Sampedrense (3^rd Div)

-Operário (2^nd Div) 0–2 Moreirense (LO)

-Merelinense (2^nd Div)  2-1 Farense (2^nd Div)

-Juv. Évora (2^nd Div) 1-0 Santa Clara (LO)

-Mirandela (3^rd Div) 1-1p Beira Mar (LZN)  

-Anadia (2^nd Div) 1–2 Feirense (LO)

-Cesarense (2^nd Div) 1–2e Académica (LZS)

-Tourizense (2^nd Div) e2-1 Aliados Lordelo (2^nd Div)

-V. Guimarães (LZN) 4-0 At. Malveira (3^rd Div)

-Nacional (LZN)  4-2 Padroense (2^nd Div)

-Leixões (LO) 3–2 Mafra (2^nd Div)