Liga Sagres: SL Benfica 2–1 Associação Naval 1º de Maio

The Encarnados beat Naval 2-1 on Sunday. Quique’s squad opened the score with a goal from Luisão. Then there were a few missed chances. The visitors were dangerous in two or three chances and scored near the end. Fortunately the tall Cardozo responded well to a ball crossed from the left and scored the second goal.

Óscar René Cardozo Marin (20/05/1983)

Óscar Cardozo, also known as “Tacuara” was born in Paraguay. People used to call him “Tacuara” because it is the guarani word for bamboo tree, a common nickame for tall people (Cardozo is 1.92cm tall) in Paraguay.

The Republic of Paraguay has the following neighbors: Argentina on South and Southwest, Brazil on the East and Northeast, and Bolivia to the Northwest. The territory consisted of Guarani-speaking tribes, who were recognized for their warrior traditions. Spaniards arrived in the early sixteenth century and the settlement of Asunción was founded on 1537 by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar y Espinoza. On 1811, Paraguay declared its independence after overthrowing the local Spanish administration.

Cardozo first football Clubs were Club 24 de Junio and the Club Atlético 3 de Febrero of Ciudad del Este. Later in 2005 and in Asunción, Cardozo was already the Top scorer of the Club Nacional. The brilliant player signed then for Club Atlético Newell’s Old Boys from Argentine and soon revealed his appetence for the goals, scoring eleven goals in 16 games played in the Apertura Tournament 2006.

The good work resulted well and he was awarded, in 2006, the Paraguayan Footballer of the year by the Sport reporters and by the public. This award is given every year, by the newspaper Diario ABC Color.

The prize and the good performance in the beginning of the 2007 season, called the attention of several Clubs and of course, of the Administration of SL Benfica, so after the negotiations he signed for our Club, Sport Lisboa e Benfica on June of that same year.

UEFA CUP Group Stage

Hertha Berliner Sport Club von 1892 vs Sport Lisboa e Benfica

On the 25th of July 1892, two sets of brothers Fritz and Max Linder and Otto and Willi Lorenz, founded the club BFC Hertha 92. Somewhere in the districts of Wedding or Prenzlauer Berg, between where the Berlin Wall would run, they played their matches.

The name Hertha comes from the fact that Fritz Linder decided to name the club after a steam boat, which he and his father had made a day trip on. On the funnel of the “Hertha” was the shipping company’s colours, white with blue stripes, which are to this day also the colours of Hertha BSC. A blue cap was worn by the players in order for them to be distinguished from the other team. The team did not wear club jerseys until the turn of the century.

In 1901 Hertha became a member of the German Association of Ball Playing Clubs (VDB). In the first season Hertha took their place in the two second league and finished in second place.

The Portuguese Cup competition started well for the reds.

Last Sunday, SL Benfica beat Futebol Clube Penafiel, on penalties. After 90 minutes and an extra time without goals, the game went to the penalties lottery and the final result was 5 -3. Two players were in evidence Makukula, demonstrating that he could be very important during the present season and Moreira. The goalkeeper had a very good performance after so much time far from the principal team.

José Filipe da Silva Moreira (20/03/1982)

Moreira was born in Massarelos in 1982 and soon become a Benfica fan. His grandparents liked very much the Club and probably influenced his choice. With the age of ten he started playing for a northern team, known as the northern Benfica, the Sport Comércio e Salgueiros. By that time he used to play in the midfield and wanted to be seen. But he did not take much time to realize that he played better as goalkeeper.

Several Clubs were following the young goalkeeper, but Moreira decided to sign contract with SL Benfica and two years later he was travelling to Lisbon, we were in 1999 and he was by that time 17een years old. The big city scared him but he was rapidly integrated with his fellow mates, like Nuno Gomes and Karel Poborsky for instance. He was missing his family a lot, but the dream was starting to become real and when he saw 90.000 supporters in the game against FC Bayern Munchen, he decided to wait for his opportunity.

Now, the Clube Desportivo das Aves is the next opponent of our team, on the Portuguese Cup.

Federação Portuguesa de Futebol

Benfica TV Gains Life

Benfica TV already gains life. For the first time in Portugal, appears a TV Channel that goes to make the difference. This Channel will allow the divulgation of the Sport Lisboa e Benfica Brand.

The workers of Benfica TV will have their own space in our Stadium. The job redaction and the Studies will also be there and a great panoramic view to the pitch is guaranteed.

The new channel will soon become a splendid investment, so many TV Companies will be interested on having the Benfica Channel on their offer. Clix Smart and AR Telecom made the first moves, but the first transmission belonged to Meo. This experience took place in the “Estádio da Luz” in the game of SLB against Napoli.

The Thursday test gave important information of what needs to be improved. In the stadium there were 15 cameras and one of them made the difference, the “spider-cam”. This “spider-cam” was in the pitch center at 62 meters high. Almost all African Countries of Portuguese Language could watch this important game. The partnership between Benfica and Portugal Telecom allowed the game transmission also to France, Albania, Italy, Malt, United States, Canada, Brazil and some others, like those who, have access to watch the Al Jazeera TV.

Ricardo Palacin was invited to be the Director of this innovating project and his experience will be vital now.

To the Press Ricardo Palacin said:

“We want to be an agency of communication serving Sport Lisboa e Benfica, betting in directs and in fresh news. On the other hand, we want to stimulate the public participation and to bet in talk-shows and documentaries, without forgetting the past of the Club. Other sports, formation and the football entrainments in the “Caixa Futebol Campus” will also be contemplated.

The Marketing wasn’t forgotten and the result can already be seen in the beautiful Logo. The first letter of the word Benfica in the Logo looks like an eagle flying giving the sensation of nobility and independence.

The Benfica TV begins working on the first days of November, promising amazing on time information and lots of entertainment to everybody.

So, do not miss!

Uefa Group Stage Draw

After the brilliant victory on thursday night against the Italian team of Napoli, now becomes known the teams SL Benfica will face in the groups stage.

On last thurday Benfica received SSC Napoli and needed to win the game. After a first half where both teams were trying to know each other and trying to controll the game, came an enthusiastic second half. Quique knew then was the right time to resolve the game, so passed that message to the players. Benfica started playing good football, and the goal would appear sooner or later and it really occurred on the 57th minute. Reyes scored another great goal and left the 56500 spectators atonished. When Carlos Martins made the pass to Nuno Gomes score the second goal, on the 84th minute a sensation of relieve appeared in the Benfica players and in the red fans among the public.

Although the International great exibithion, last night Benfica returned to the Portuguese League making the habitual errors of the last long years. Every portuguese football lover kows that, there are only two main objectives in certain Clubs, Coaches and Teams from the Liga Sagres. The first one is to maintain their Football Team between the best Portuguese Clubs, in the first league. The second one, is that they all know, that unfortunately, the only moment they will be talked about seriously in the press is, when they play against 3 or 4 teams in Portugal. In this occasions the Stadiums are full, altough the ticket prices in these games become high and the TVs with their audiences and shares make the rest.

These are some of the reasons, why Quique Flores should know, that these opponent players will want to make their best perfomance in these moments. Respecting these Clubs and avoiding draws to one goal, like that occurred yesterday in Estádio do Mar agains Leixões Sport Club, the easiest solution is to make, as soon as possible, a two goals difference. After that our team will certanly become more solid, more strong and less tired. Probably the team will also have more spaces to explore in the opposit deffense. This may not be the solution for getting the 3 points, but one thing is for sure, the fans would enjoy watching the game.

Uefa Group Stage

23 October: Hertha BSC Berlin – SL Benfica;
6 November: SL Benfica - Galatasaray AS;
27 November: Olympiacos CFP – SL Benfica;
3 December: Rest;
18 December: SL Benfica – FC Metalist.Kharkiv.

The Union of European Football Associations: UEFA CUP » Second Leg

Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Sporting Clube Portugal

On Saturday night our glorious team defeated the Lisbon rivals Sporting C.P. on a tactical match.

Quique Flores decided to leave Katsouranis and Aimar on the bench during the first half and they became the key to solve the game. Both teams were very similar on this first part and the null was the correct result.

On the second half, the “Encarnados” Coach decided to give more dynamic to the game, and launched these two players that made the difference. Katso helped the team to gain control of the midfield and Aimar opened spaces on the frontline, making also a brilliant pass to Reyes who scored the 1st goal. From one defender came the second goal of the night, five minutes after the first one. Sidnei who was part of the central defenders, with Miguel Vitor, responded accurately with his head to a Carlos Martins free-kick.


Sport Lisboa e Benfica vs Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli S.p.A.

Now after the last Saturday brilliant victory against Sporting Clube Portugal, Benfica returns to the Uefa International Competitions.

After a 3-2 defeat on the San Paolo in Naples a victory is needed. One goal difference win, can be enough, to achieve the next round. Napoli will certainly make the things difficult to the reds. S.L. Benfica will not be able to count with Cardozo, Makukula and Suazo for different reasons, so Nuno Gomes will need the support of all the team to be able to score the dreamed goal.


Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Goalkeepers: Quim and Moreira;

Defenders: Léo, Luisão, Maxi Pereira, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro and Miguel Vítor;

Midfileders: Balboa, Binya, Aimar, Carlos Martins, Di María, Katsouranis, Reyes, Rúben Amorim, Urreta and Yebda;

Forwards: Nuno Gomes and Nélson Oliveira;

Coach: Quique Flores.