SL Benfica wins against the CS Maritimo team, in Madeira island, and keeps sharing the top of the Portuguese Liga with SP Braga.
Recently, there were the huge and known celebrations of the new year, in the Madeira Island. One of the most popular places in Portugal and in Europe, to celebrate the entrance in the new year. Probably the Maritimo players were still recovering from that particular night. The mistakes the players orientated by Mitchel van der Gaag were so many that, was difficult not winning that game.
Last Sunday the Lisbon team made one of the most intelligent games on this season. Benfica conceded some ball control to the home team, during half an hour, but on the other hand, the team of Paulo Jorge and Manú had few spaces to play. During this period a lonely chance, created by Cláudio Pittbull, took some danger to the nets protected by Quim. After this, the red forwards demonstrated their great capacities. Di Maria, Aimar and Cardozo helped Saviola (30') scoring the first goal. A brilliant header from "El Conejo" that gave no chance to Peçanha, the CS Maritimo goalkeeper. Peçanha was disappointed with his companions and, more reasons had a few moments later, when Olberdam decided to say something probably nasty and the referee heard and he become expulsed from the game. On the 34' Maxi Pereira appeared on the area and scored the second of the eagles. Before the end of the first half, Robson originates a penalty and sees the red card. Cardozo called to kick the penalty doesn't miss and scores the third goal of the team.
On the second part of the game, Jorge Jesus players controlled even better the match and reached the goal, for two more times. An own goal by R. Sousa and the other from the team captain, the Brazilian Luisão. When Carlos Martins, Nuno Gomes and Éder Luís entered the game, few was left to do.
The referee could have marked two penalties, one against Benfica on an eventual hand from Maxi and the other against CS Marítimo on a eventual fault on Aimar. But in a global way the work of João Ferreira and his team was positive and did not caused any interference on the final result (0-5).
On the thirteen January SLB visited Vitória SC for the Carlsberg Cup and achieved a draw on a terrible pitch. The weather in Guimarães was terrible and both teams suffered a lot to be able to play a decent match. Douglas (56') scored for Vitória SC and Fábio Coentrão (75') equalized the game. Few spectators (4.318) and few more to say besides the titularity given by J. Jesus to Julio César, Roderick and to Éder Luís.
The liga Cup needs to be more attractive, in terms of sport and earnings. It is urgent to rebuild the competition in a way that everybody can be satisfied, the Clubs and of course the fans.
