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Gritty Benfica beat Guimaraes to confirm title credentials

Vitoria Guimaraes 1-2 Benfica

Benfica were down to 10 men for the entire second half, but still managed to claw their way to a 2-1 away victory against Vitoria Guimaraes. The visiting Eagles went ahead with early markers by David Suazo and Sidnei, but Guimaraes managed to pull one back through Douglas.

Jose Antonio Reyes was sent off before the first half came to a close, but then Benfica completely shut down Guimaraes in the second half to earn an important victory at the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques.

The match will also be marked for the controversial officiating of Carlos Xistra as the referee from Castelo Branco missed a boatload of calls and was a major antagonist in the contest.

The first such incident occurred as early as the 4th minute when Pablo Aimar made a darting run towards the goal line inside the Guimaraes box. The Argentine, who returned to action after sitting out a month due to injury, was recklessly challenged by Danilo and the referee, standing 5 metres away from the incident saw nothing in it and allowed play to continue, awarding the hosts a goal kick.

Aimar magic

Not be outdone, Aimar would get his revenge in the 15th minute as the classy midfielder grabbed hold of the ball in his own half of the field and with a magical pass, by crossing his right leg behind his left, fed Suazo with a pass down field.

The Honduran international latched onto the ball and made his way toward the Guimaraes goal. The striker avoided two Guimaraes defenders and as soon as he entered the 18 yard box, released a low shot towards the far post with his right foot to beat Nilson and give Benfica the lead.

The lead would be doubled three minutes later when another of Benfica’s revelations, Sidnei, was left unmarked and headed a Reyes free kick towards the same post as Suazo’s goal and gave Benfica a two-goal lead.

The questionable calls were beginning to creep in as Suazo was perched to grab a third Benfica goal, but was called back offside. Aimar then received a yellow card when Flavio Meireles deliberately took down the Benfica player.

The home side pulled a goal back in the 40th minute as Roberto supplied Douglas with a through ball. Luisao tried to cut out the pass, but his sliding tackle missed, allowing the Brazilian to go in alone against Quim. The Guimaraes striker made no mistake as he notched his fourth goal of the campaign and made the score 1-2.

Reyes sees red

Shortly after, Reyes saw two yellow cards in the span of three minutes. The first was for a 50-50 tackle which the referee saw differently and the second was for raising his foot and making contact with Andrezinho’s hip.

In the second half Guimaraes failed to make good on their advantage. Benfica were poised and disciplined and did not allow the hosts to get anywhere near Quim.

Yellow cards should have been issued to Roberto and Douglas for simulation and a deliberate handball in the Benfica area, but both incidents went unpunished. Perhaps, the most scandalous incident of the match was when Andrezinho firmly planted the bottom of his boot into the face of Suazo, with the referee looking on, and no call was made, not even a free kick for the visitors.

Nonetheless, Benfica kept their composure, and frustrated the hosts while walking away from the game with the full three points.

Vitoria Guimaraes:
Nilson, Andrezinho, Gregory, Danilo (Mohma), Amaral, Wenio, Joao Alves, Flavio Meireles (Nuno Assis), Desmarets (Luis Filipe, 58), Roberto, Douglas
Yellow Cards: Danilo, Flavio Meireles, Wenio

Benfica:
Quim, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Sidnei, Jorge Ribeiro, Ruben Amorim (Binya, 85), Katsouranis, Yebda, Aimar (Carlos Martins, 68), Reyes, Suazo (Cardozo, 77)
Yellow Cards: Aimar, Reyes, Yebda, Katsouranis
Red Cards: Reyes (45)

Goals:
[0-1] Suazo, 15
[0-2] Sidnei, 18
[1-2] Douglas, 40