Inglorious outcome for such superiority

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Recognized by the fans with a standing ovation, Benfica's display of quality and total commitment was not enough to seal their ticket to the Portuguese Cup final. Otamendi and Rafa scored the goals in the 2-2 draw against Sporting in the second leg of the semi-finals, a result that proved too little to overcome the 2-1 defeat in the first leg.

For the third edition of the Lisbon derby this season (2023/24), Roger Schmidt has chosen an XI made up of Trubin, Bah, António Silva, Otamendi, Aursnes, Florentino, João Neves, Di María, Neres, Rafa and Tengstedt. 

In the 10th minute, Benfica fans celebrated the 1-0 lead, but Rafa's shot after an assist from Bah was disallowed due to an irregular position for the Reds' No. 27 at the start of the play. Sporting tried to freeze the game by circulating the ball around their area, but the eagles kept pushing forward and, in the 15th minute, it was the crossbar that prevented the first goal of the night. Following a Di María initiative, the ball fell to Tengstedt, who chipped the ball over the Israel goalkeeper and hit the crossbar.

Galvanized by the Reds' dominance, the Luz crowd did their part, continued to support the team and, in the 20th minute, there was another moment of excitement near the green and white goal. After recovering another ball in the opponent's half, this time through João Neves, Aursnes crossed to the far post, where Di María fired a volley that was saved by Israel.

The last chance before the break belonged to Otamendi, whose acrobatic shot, following a corner taken by Di María, sailed over the goal in the 35th minute. The Reds' lack of effectiveness meant that the score remained level when the teams went to the changing rooms and the stage was set for tributes to the women's futsal, basketball and volleyball teams, who recently won their respective Portuguese Cups.

For the second half, Rúben Amorim replaced Diomande, Nuno Santos and Esgaio with St. Juste, Matheus Reis and Geny Catamo, and the substitutions had an immediate effect. After recovering the ball on the right flank, St. Juste asked Gyökeres to clear the ball, and he played it to Hjulmand, who fired home from the edge of the box to make it 0-1 in the 47th minute. A goal against the run of play that prompted a strong response from the Eagles.

In the 49th minute, Rafa combined well with Tengstedt and the Danish striker was fouled on the edge of the Sporting penalty area when he was about to go one-on-one with Israel, a move that earned Gonçalo Inácio a yellow card. From the free kick, Di María shot against the Leon barrier and, on the break, Benfica won the corner that made it 1-1.

After Sporting's defense cleared the ball to the edge of the box, Rafa served Neres, who dribbled Hjulmand before crossing to the far post, where Otamendi headed the ball into the back of the net in the 52nd minute. The eagles captain's fourth goal of the season and some justice restored to the scoreline.

However, showing enormous efficiency, Sporting regained the lead (1-2) in the 55th minute. Geny Catamo's cross from the right was incompletely saved by Trubin and the ball fell to Paulinho, who fired into the net. 

The next minute, Estádio da Luz exploded with another Benfica goal. Bah started the play on the right and passed the ball to Neres, who backheeled it to the Danish full-back. The Danish player delivered a low cross and the ball flew across the Sporting penalty area to Rafa, who slotted the ball into the empty net. An excellent team play that earned the Reds' No. 27 his 19th goal of the season.

The tone was set for another assault by the eagles on their opponents' goal, and in the 72nd minute, a move aroused a lot of controversy. After a pass from Di María, Rafa invaded the Sporting box and fell after being touched by Coates. Without any infraction being called, the play continued, and Di María shot from the edge of the box, only for Israel to make a great save. Before the corner, the play between Rafa and Coates was reviewed by the VAR, which validated João Pinheiro's decision. A penalty was not given.

Until the final whistle, the Reds piled crosses into Sporting's penalty area that didn't have the desired effect.

After a very balanced Portuguese Cup tie, with controversial refereeing decisions in both legs, Benfica will once again face their Lisbon rivals next Saturday, April 6, in a derby from matchday 28 of the Liga Betclic. The clash at the Estádio José Alvalade is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 pm.