8 September 2007, by Marco Pereira

Nuno Gomes brace gets Benfica back on track

Uniao de Leiria 1-2 Benfica

It took a double by Nuno Gomes to propel Benfica back to winning ways after the team initially suffered an early Cadu Silva goal as they beat Uniao de Leiria 2-1 away.

The victory shoots the Lisbon side up to fourth place in the table, one point behind Sporting and Maritimo and eight behind leaders FC Porto. The win was just what the Lisbon club needed after suffering heavy criticism due to their poor form, which translated into three draws and two losses in their last five games in all competitions.

The match began with a bang as Cadu Silva controlled a Maciel cross in the box and slotted past Quim to put the home side one up. The early strike seemed to awaken Benfica as they piled on mounds of pressure from that point forward.

In the 10th minute Rui Costa came close with a free kick, but Fernando reached the ball and punched it out to safety. Then in the 15th minute Benfica found their equaliser as Nuno Gomes converted a Cristian Rodriguez cross to level the score at one apiece.

End-to-end chances

Five minutes later Benfica could have taken the lead as Rui Costa linked well with Nuno Gomes and Katsouranis, and the Benfica number 10 fired just wide of Fernando’s net. Back bounced Leiria and in the 27th minute Joao Paulo missed heading Leiria back in front by a hair’s width.

In an exciting match Benfica immediately raced up the pitch and Katsouranis released a screamer that nicked the post. Joao Paulo then came close again with another header, before Nuno Gomes could have scored his second but Fernando came up with a sharp save from the Portugal striker’s header.

The second half started a little lethargically as both teams took their time picking up the rhythm of a thrilling opening 45 minutes. Benfica had the first good opportunity of the second half in the 54th minute as Cristian Rodriguez released a devilish shot that brought the best out of Fernando to keep the scores level.

Leiria responded in the 63rd minute, but Joao Paulo could only divert an inviting Sougou cross into the side-netting. The miss would prove costly as Benfica found their go-ahead goal in the 65th minute when Katsouranis slid a diagonal ball to Nuno Gomes, whose sliding shot beat Fernando.

Benfica could have gone further ahead three minutes later, but Katsouranis could not reach a Maxi Pereira ball and in the 73rd minute Maxi crossed another ball into the Leiria box that Rui Costa fired into the side-netting.

Quim save

Benfica had one last opportunity on goal as Cardozo released second-half substitute, Nuno Assis, who would have been in on goal all alone, but the pass was wrongly called offside. N’Gal gave Benfica a nervous moment near the end as his header in the dying seconds was heroically stopped by Quim.

Benfica are unfortunate in that the league now takes a break for the international calendar, as they would have wanted to ride the wave of enthusiasm brought by their victory. A spirited effort by Uniao de Leiria, who never gave up when the score was level or when they went down a goal, will give the team hope of quickly climbing the table.

Uniao de Leiria:
Fernando, Laranjeiro, Eder Gaucho, Hugo Costa, Lopes, Cadu Silva, Tiago, Tonito (Paulo Cesar, 75), Sougou (Ngal, 74), Maciel, Joao Paulo
Yellow Cards: Tiago (18), Sougou (61), Ngal (89)

Benfica:
Quim, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Edcarlos, Leo (Luis Filipe, 67), Binya, Katsouranis, Rui Costa (Rui Costa, 74), Cristian Rodriguez (Nuno Assis, 85), Cardozo, Nuno Gomes
Yellow Cards: Binya (70), Nuno Assis (89)

Goals:
[1-0] Cadu Silva, 2
[1-1] Nuno Gomes, 15
[1-2] Nuno Gomes, 65