Cardozo fires Benfica to crucial win

Vitoria Guimaraes 1-3 Benfica

Benfica earned an important victory as the Eagles overcame Vitoria Guimaraes 3-1 at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques. Oscar Cardozo notched a brace while Maxi Pereira sandwiched a goal in between the forward’s two strikes.

Substitute Ghilas tried to make it close for the hosts, but his effort proved only a consolation for the hosts. The win solidifies second spot in the tables for Benfica and puts a dent in Gumiaraes’ Champions League ambitions.

An electric atmosphere at the stadium as supporters for both clubs were in full force. But the visitors soon silenced the home crowd as Cardozo racked up his 6th goal in league play with a superbly taken free kick. The Paraguayan stepped up and curled the ball over the wall into the top right-hand corner, leaving Nilson no chance.

Di Maria magic

Benfica doubled their lead in the 24th minute, as Angel Di Maria showed some lovely individual skill by dancing past Andrezinho shimmying him way into the Guimaraes box.

The Argentine drew three players including goalkeeper Nilson, looked up and slid in a sizzling low cross towards the unmarked Maxi Pereira who had the simple tasks of tapping it into the open net.

The hosts tried to crawl back into the game in the 30th minute when Mrdakovic had an effort on goal, but the shot was well-saved by Quim. Controversy followed has Rui Costa went down injured and was harshly shown a yellow card while being stretchered off. As a result the midfield maestro will miss Benfica’s next match against Nacional.

After being pushed around for the opening 45 minutes, Guimaraes were a different side after the break, looking far more determined and uninhibited. The change in tactics and attitude was paying off as Geremol and Alan came close to reducing the deficit in quick succession.

In the 60th minute Ghilas was on the spot when the ball was deflected to the far post and the Algerian slotted the ball past Quim to pull the hosts back into the match. Mrdakovic came close to levelling the scores four minutes later, but the Serbian missed by the smallest of margins.

Clinical Cardozo

Benfica put the game away in extra time as they took advantage of a Guimaraes blunder. Goalkeeper Nilson came out to clear a Freddy Adu punt forward, but he only succeeded in smashing the ball into the body of Cardozo.

The striker coolly slotted the ball into the empty net from all of 50 meters to complete the win, with the referee waving away Nilson’s claims that the Paraguayan had used his arm to stop the ball.

Vitoria Guimaraes:
Nilson, Andrezinho, Sereno, Geromel, Amaral (Roberts, 61), Flavio Meireles, Joao Alves (Ghilas, 46), Fajardo (Carlitos, 46), Alan, Mrdakovic, Desmarets
Yellow Cards: Ghilas (58), Nilson (92)

Benfica:
Quim, Luis Filipe, Edcarlos, David Luiz (Nuno Assis, 45), Nelson, Katsouranis, Petit, Rui Costa (Nuno Gomes, 85), Maxi Pereira, Cardozo, Di Maria (Adu, 76)
Yellow Cards: Petit (17), Rui Costa (34), Nelson (58), Di Maria (67)

Goals:
[0-1] Cardozo, 7
[0-2] Maxi Pereira, 26
[1-2] Ghilas, 60
[1-3] Cardozo, 92