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Rui Costa bids emotional farewell to his playing days in Benfica win

Benfica 3-0 Vitoria Setubal

The football world said goodbye to one of Portugal’s more recognised and admired players of the game as Rui Costa laced up his boots for the last time as Benfica beat Vitoria Setubal 3-0 at the Estadio da Luz. Over 50 000 spectators filled the stadium to witness what was the last match of the man known as “The Maestro”.

Rui Costa could not hold back his gratitude as the classy midfielder was reduced to tears when he was substituted late in the second half, applauding the crowd and embracing his father, who was waiting on the sidelines. After 776 career matches, 176 in a Benfica jersey, and 132 goals, the world-class player is set to become the club’s next director of football.

Besides the gushing emotions, there was a match to be played which had Champions League implications for the Eagles. The team had to win their game and hope for a little help from the results involving Sporting and Vitoria Guimaraes.

Benfica did their part, but results elsewhere did not go their way and the Portuguese giants finished in fourth place, on 52 points, and will have to settle for Uefa Cup football next season. The hosts came out of the blocks looking for a quick goal to settle their nerves, and almost managed one in the 4th minute when Edcarlos’ header missed the post by inches. Two minutes later Leo also headed just wide.

Benfica thought that they had gone up by a goal in the 24th minute, but Nuno Gomes’ effort was called back for offside. But two minutes later the home side did score, as Katsouranis headed in a pinpoint Rui Costa cross.

Cardozo thunderbolt

Vitoria hit back and came close to an equaliser after a couple of goalmouth scrambles, only for the danger to be cleared. Benfica then doubled their lead as the team’s leading goalscorer, Oscar Cardozo, notched his 13th goal of the championship and 22nd in all competitions when he released a left-footed blast from the edge of the box, rendering Eduardo helpless.

Eduardo was having a busy night for the visitors and was called upon in the 54th minute to make two stupendous stops from Nuno Gomes and then Rui Costa on the follow-up. The same thing happened in the 67th minute, only in reverse order as it was Rui Costa who was stopped first this time around, followed by Nuno Gomes.

In the 88th minute came the moment everyone had waited for as Rui Costa was substituted to say his final goodbyes as a player and all his team-mates, and some members of Vitoria Setubal congratulated the number 10 on a stellar career and for the wonderful memories. Rui Costa walked off the pitch and into the arms of his awaiting father, to whom he gave his final jersey.

Straight after the emotional farewell, Nuno Gomes scored the third and final goal of the night as the Portuguese international picked up a Cardozo rebound and slotted the ball into the net with his right foot. After the match, Rui Costa held a press conference after entering the room to a standing ovation from the media, to say thank you to everyone who had followed his career:

“Thank you for everything that you have given me, for all your affection. Today, for me, something ended that I started to do when I was 9 years old. As I cry one more time, as I have done in many other occasions, I will also laugh a lot because I ended where I dreamt the most: at Benfica. I am emotional, certainly, but I also have pride to have ended this way; exhausted, but very happy.”

Benfica:
Quim, Nelson (Maxi Pereira, 46), Luisao, Edcarlos, Leo, Katsouranis, Nuno Assis (Di Maria, 64), Rui Costa (Binya, 88), Cristian Rodrigues, Nuno Gomes, Cardozo

Vitoria Setubal:
Eduardo, Janicio, Robson, Hugo, Leo Bonfim, Sandro, Ricardo Chaves (Severino, 85), Elsia, Filipe (Bruno Ribeiro, 46). Bruno Gama (Paulinho, 75), Claudio Pitbull
Yellow Cards: Claudio Pitbull (29), Sandro (67)

Goals:
[1-0] Katsouranis, 26
[2-0] Cardozo, 40
[3-0] Nuno Gomes, 88