Benfica 3-1 Braga
Portuguese champions Benfica went to the top of the table after Round 5 of the Liga NOS thanks to a 3-1 win over Braga in an exhilarating contest at the Estádio da Luz on Monday night.
The Eagles benefited from being the only team in the top four to win at the weekend, as Sporting lost 3-1 at Rio Ave and Porto were held to a goalless draw at Tondela.
The hosts were boosted by the return of Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou, while the game offered the curiosity of two brothers facing each other, Benfica’s André Horta lining up against Braga’s Ricardo Horta.
An electric opening 10 minutes set the tone for a superb night of entertainment.
Braga wasteful
Mitroglou was close to scoring after 60 seconds, his low 20-yard effort skimming just past the post. Braga hit back immediately and spurned two glaring chances to take an early lead, Hassan shooting tamely wide when clean through with on Júlio César to beat, and then Pedro Santos failing to beat Benfica’s Brazilian goalkeeper from close range.
The to-and-fro nature of the match continued apace with Benfica a responding to the scares through Gonçalo Guedes, who went close with an effort from range before Salvio forced Braga goalkeeper Marafona into a superb diving save to keep out his rasping effort from ten yards out.
Grimaldo was next to test the Braga ‘keeper, twisting one way and the next before releasing a firm effort that Marafona was equal to.
With Benfica’s lightning attack functioning well and Braga looking equally dangerous on the break a goal was inevitable, and it was the home team that made the breakthrough on 27 minutes. Pizzi started the move with a clever back-heel into the path of the rampaging Guedes, who advanced before crossing for Mitrolgou to fire an unerring first-time finish into the corner of the net.
The unrelenting speed at which both teams were attacking continued as Braga recovered from the set-back and twice came close to an equaliser before half time, Pedro Santos and Rosic denied by sharp saves from Benfica goalkeeper César.
Guedes lively
The pace of the game understandably dropped slightly in the second half, although it was no less entertaining for that. Marafona produced a wonderful reaction save, somehow changing direction in mid-flight to prevent a Guedes free kick from hitting the net, and the same two players were at the centre of the action shortly afterwards as the Braga goalkeeper dived to his right to keep out a fierce shot from outside the box.
Impressive Benfica right-back Nélson Semedo made a wonderful interception to prevent Wilson Eduardo from equalising for Braga after fine work by Santos as the visitors refused to throw in the towel.
Only in the 74th minute could Benfica breathe a sigh of relief, as a second goal arrived when a sustained period of attacking from the hosts saw the ball break to Pizzi, who fired under Marafona from close range. Braga’s players were furious as Pizzi was clearly in an offside position, but the referee allowed the goal to stand as he interpreted that it had arrived at Pizzi’s feet via a pass from a Braga player.
The overwhelming majority of the 52,181 crowd in the stadium were not complaining, and they were soon celebrating a third goal as Pizzi dribbled to the byline and crossed for Mitroglou to head in from point-blank range.
In a thoroughly enjoyable encounter, with both sides committed to an attacking approach throughout, there was still time for late Benfica substitute José Gomes to sting Marafona’s fingers with an effort from the top of the box, before Braga at last got a deserved goal for their efforts, Rosic heading in a corner in stoppage time.
As well as the quality of the match reflecting well on the league, another positive was the fact Benfica ended the match with six Portuguese players on the pitch, four of whom had come from their youth ranks, while Braga also fielded six Portuguese players.
By Tom Kundert at the Estádio da Luz
Benfica: Júlio César, Nélson Semedo, Lisandro, Lindelöf, Grimaldo, Fejsa (André Almeida, 89’), Salvio (André Carrillo, 67’), Pizzi, André Horta, Gonçalo Guedes, Mitroglou (José Gomes, 82’)
Braga: Marafona, Baiano, Rosic, André Pinto (Artur Jorge, 72’), Goiano, Mauro, Vukcevic, Pedro Santos (Alan, 80’), Ricardo Horta (Coutinho, 67’), Wilson Eduardo, Hassan
Goals:
[1-0] Mitroglou, 27’
[2-0] Pizzi, 74’
[3-0] Mitroglou, 78’
[3-1] Rosic, 90’
