The reds had for two different competitions to face the two Lisbon rivals and the most important was obtained, that was, two victories.
Carlsberg Cup: Sporting Clube Portugal 1-4 Sport Lisboa e Benfica
SL Benfica went to visit the lions home, José Alvalade Stadium, for the Liga Cup last week on the 9th February and was expecting to face the same old rival. However, things were not like that, Sporting club is living some difficult times and the team is the reflex of it.
Many fans expected a better Sporting for the following reasons: the team was away from the Portuguese Cup and on the Liga Sagres was occupying the fourth place. It was a derby against the eternal rival and also because the game was disputed at home. Nevertheless Jorge Jesus the reds coach made some alterations on the team and players like Júlio César, Éder Luís and Alan Kardec entered initially.
Sporting entered the game badly, João Pereira made a unnecessary fault (7’) over Ramires and saw the red card. The result of the free kick was precisely the first goal of SLB, scored by David Luiz (8’). The time was passing and Di Maria making damage on the opponent defence when half an hour arrived and with it the second goal of the game and again for the reds, this time scored by the Brazilian Ramires. Another Brazilian player scored for Sporting CP seven minutes later, his name Liedson, the lions player who played more on the 90’ minutes. On the second part of the game came two more goals one from the number 4 Luisão (68’) and the other one from Óscar Cardozo just before the final whistle from Olegário Benquerença the referee of the game who made an acceptable work.
Liga Sagres: Sport Lisboa e Benfica 1-0 Clube Futebol «Os Belenenses»
Benfica received for the Portuguese Liga last Saturday afternoon another rival from the Capital, this time the team of CF «Os Belenenses». The Belem team came to Luz on the last place of the championship but strangely because they are playing a pleasant football. The team orientated by António Conceição appeared facing Benfica differently from the others teams who normally come to our Stadium to defend. A well organized team made the eagle players run more and caused many troubles to the eagles offensive who had tuff times. However more than 45300 spectators saw Cardozo scoring soon, before the 10 minutes, when he responded well with his head to a perfect cross from Ramires on the right. A open game that had few chances for both sides. Quim the Benfica goalkeeper responded always well on the few chances created by the blues from Restelo, mainly in the first half and by Fajardo. David Luiz and Weldon need to be more concentrated and focus more on what Jesus wants from them, on the other hand, Javi Garcia, Fábio Coentrão and Maxi Pereira helped in a very positive way the team obtaining this 3 points. The referee wasn’t noticed expect when showed correctly the red card to Bruno Vale, the Belenenses goalkeeper who was making a good job, when he defended a ball from Cardozo away from his area.
The doors of the Algarve Stadium will be opened on the 20th of March to receive the Carlsberg Cup final, Benfica will then play against the other finalist team FC Porto. On the Portuguese Liga Benfica maintains the first position with 49 points.
