Heathrow Club 0 Kensington DFC 1

the under 18's were away at Heathrow looking to consolidate a top 3 league finish.

There was a little lack of focus early on allowing the opposition to get a foothold in the game.
The Dragon's keeper had to make one sharp save before they eventually took hold of the game and half chances came and went with some help from an opposition linesman seemingly determined to keep his side level.

Training

After a stern reminder from the manager on keeping possesion and an inspirational captains huddle the young Dragons dominated the 2nd half with many close calls and a missed penalty. However they would not be denied, some great work from the left back forcing the keeper to save only for the penalty culprit to nip in and grab the winner.
FT 0-1 The Dragons are still top but with 2 teams close behind with a few games in hand.

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.

Back In Management

I have recently taken over my old under 18s, a decision that I had to think hard about.


I had been away from management for eight months. Scouting, spending time with family and my full time chef job was what I had to concentrate on and stepping back in would be giving some time up.

I was asked by the outgoing manager Mustafa as a favour to manage until the end of season. He had been my assistant for 2 seasons until this season started (1 season at a different club). When I first brought him on board, It was his first job as a coach but after 2 seasons he wanted to try his hand at managing, so I stepped aside as I had another u18 team I worked with midweek, therefore giving him a break into management.

Having taken the squad from under 13s where we had started in the 3rd division all the way into the Premiership at u17s, I had the chance to step into a higher standard of youth football and be appointed director of football at another club, whilst still working with some of my players from the previous club going in between and having the same assistant was never like leaving.

But after 2 seasons at my then new club, it was hard to implement a good standard without any support or financial stability. The role also included me taking over the first team who had been suspended from the league due to ground grading. So after a long summer of setting up a new squad to play in a lower league, the plug was pulled due to a sudden merger set to happen the year after and the Chairman not being able to find any support to help run the club in the admin side. So with all this I decided to take some time off.

So now the return to management...

I had watched the team on three occasions. On two occasions at the manager’s request as they encountered the derby rivals and he felt more at ease (his own words) with me on the sideline.

Mustafa called me to say he had gotten a job coaching a 4th division team in Sweden, a full time coaching position that he had longed for. I was pleased as it was something he had mentioned in conversations.

Mustafa had a word with the chairman and both wanted me to take the team as I knew some of the boys and would distract very little from the league.

True I had managed 6 of the players but there was another bunch I had only seen play once at one stage or another, but I didn’t know anyone’s strengths and weaknesses’, so when the news were broken to the squad that I would be taking over and the manager departing, this was the only transition of management, I was asked not to come on board until 3 weeks after, and with only 1 training session before a double header game against one of the teams hot on our heels and who had knocked them out of the cup.

Two weeks have passed, we have had 3 games, 3 victories which means top of the table but we have a few games ahead of the rivals.

I have enlisted 2 new coaches who have both worked with me and are also first team players for my current team to which the boys have taken to.

But training attendance at the moment is not to my standards, but with transfer window closed, it makes hard to drop and recruit players.

But like I said I will only do it until the end of the season and see if offers to either the first team or at another senior club come along next season.

Benfica Voted best club in the world by (IFFHS)

Benfica has been recognized as the best club in the world by the International Federation of Football History & Statistic (IFFHS)

The website writes:
"The World Club Team of the Month for February is Sport Lisboa e Benfica ahead of AFC Ajax Amsterdam. In February the Portuguese won all their matches in the national league, the national FA Cup and in the Europa League."

Benfica have won 18 out of their last 18 games and have merited this award.
Benfica ahve also had their ground almost full for their last 3 home matches. (not relevant but worth a mention)

For the full Article click here and read about the Glorioso's rise and ranking.

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

Fabio Coentrao's goal

A beautiful goal from our kid Fabio.. a true star.. a natural left footed player, he struck that ball so well in the dying seconds of added on time.