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| Monday, 09 April 2012 23:13 |
Sporting dash Benfica’s championship hopesSporting 1-0 Benfica Benfica’s title aspirations were dealt a huge blow by rivals Sporting in the Lisbon derby tonight. Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s first-half penalty was enough for a 1-0 victory for the hosts to leave the Eagles four points behind FC Porto in the championship race.
Jorge Jesus was able to restore his central defensive partnership with Luisao and Ezequiel Garay both starting after recovering from their respective injury problems. Ricardo Sa Pinto made just one change from the team that drew away to Metalist last week, bringing in cup-tied Elias in the place for the youngster Andre Martins. Penalty let-offThe game began in controversial fashion when Benfica believed they should have had a penalty early on. Anderson Polga slid in on Nicolas Gaitan in the area after just 50 seconds. Replays showed that Polga got very little of the ball and a lot of the man in his tackle and Sporting could consider themselves lucky.
Sporting looked to counter attack a Benfica side that were fighting to cut Porto’s lead at the top of the table. It was on the break that Sporting carved out their first chance of the game when Ricky van Wolfswinkel found Matias Fernandez in the box. The Chilean midfielder’s shot was miscued and went wide of Artur’s goal. On 17 minutes Sporting were awarded a penalty when Luisao pulled back Ricky van Wolfswinkel in the box. Replays showed that the Dutchman may have gone down with ease but Luisao’s hand was certainly all over the forward’s neck and that was enough for referee Artur Soares Dias to point to the spot and book the Brazilian defender. Ricky van Wolfswinkel stepped up and confidently hit home, sending Artur the wrong way. It was the striker’s 9th league goal this season and sent a packed Alvalade into frenzy. Benfica had chances before the end of the first half with Axel Witsel and Oscar Cardozo both having headers, but the Eagles went into the break trailing their city rivals. Yannick Djalo enters the frayJorge Jesus made one change at half time with former Sporting man Yannick Djalo coming on in place of Rodrigo. A mix-up in the Sporting defence almost let Benfica back into the game. Rui Patricio went to claim a cross but was caught out of position and the ball fell kindly to Maxi Pereira. Emiliano Insua managed to block the Uruguayan’s header on the line.
Sporting looked threatening on the counter attack and Ricky van Wolfswinkel had a great chance to extend Sporting’s lead when he latched onto a suicidal back pass from Javi Garcia. Goalkeeper Artur positioned himself perfectly to save his side’s blushes though van Wolfswinkel should have done better. Izmailov rattles barThe home side went close again just minutes later when Izmailov’s long-range effort rattled the underside of the Benfica crossbar, the woodwork denying what would have been a fantastic goal from the midfielder.
As Benfica continued to risk in trying to gain a point from the game it made them susceptible to more counter attacks. Ricky van Wolfswinkel had another superb chance when he rounded goalkeeper Artur but lost balance before he could strike and Benfica survived again. Benfica almost grabbed the equaliser immediately after when Yannick Djalo found a cross bounce in his favour. The Portuguese winger almost stole the headlines with a half-volley that just went wide. Jorge Jesus’ side continued to gain more possession and the home side sat deeper in an effort to hold onto their one goal advantage. Their chances of grabbing an equaliser were hurt late on when Luisao received a second yellow card in stoppage time for a foul on substitute Diego Rubio. Sequence of Benfica domination endedFollowing the sending off Sporting were able to hold onto their lead comfortably and record their first win against their arch rivals in nine attempts dating back to 2009.
For Benfica this defeat is a big dent to their title hopes. They will feel a 4-point deficit is not unassailable as Porto have tricky fixtures against Maritimo and Sporting still to come but Jorge Jesus knows they must now win all four of their remaining games to be in with a realistic chance. by Richard Cole Sporting: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Xandao, Polga, Insua, Matias Fernandez, Elias, Schaars (Carrico, 65), Izmailov, Wolfswinkel (Rubio, 73), Capel (Carrillo, 89) Benfica: Artur, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Emerson, Javi Garcia (Nelson Olveira, 62), Bruno Cesar, Witsel, Gaitan (Nolito, 73), Rodrigo (Yannick Djalo, HT), Cardozo Goals: [1-0] Wolfswinkel, 18 (pen) |
I got annoyed at SOME of the ARROGANT comments made by some people on this post...do you want me to name them? Ok here's a few: Steve/New Beige, Sam Harris and Frederico...the first 2 Im very used to anyway, they always come up with Benfica hate-mail. I was not in any way suggesting that Sportinguistas and Portistas in general are arrogant, of course they aren't...my post was in reaction to those few who got really ahead of themselves with their comments, when clearly the season for Benfica, Sporting and Porto is still far from over and there's a lot of football yet to be played!!! That's all i was meaning to say amigo!!
Had you actually encouraged anyone to take it easy, I would cheerfully have agreed with you. Instead, you chose to insult the fans of two different teams-- and the "arrogance all season" was particularly tacky on your part.
Your first comment was well thought out. I wish you had stopped there, instead of choosing to do the written equivalent of throwing golf balls at the fan buses of two teams you clearly dislike.
Poorly done, sir.
But there is a clear double standard here...it's alright for a bunch of hate-mail aimed at Benfica on this article...and then when I retort by telling SOME (i repeat SOME) Sporting fans to take it easy with their comments, and stop acting like you've just won the Champions League and to realise there's still a way to go in the season...i get bombarded by more hate-mail. LOL!!!
The truth is i usually tend to focus and comment on my own team, and the articles related to them...the positives and the negatives (I am one of SLB's biggest critics when things are not going well). But this is unlike a lot of other people on this site, who seem to just be waiting for a bad Benfica result, so they can rub it in with more hate-mail. Sad really!! As NJ correctly states, Benfica are the most loved, so therefore the most hated as well (it's the same with the biggest clubs of many other countries: Real, Juventus, Man United etc etc). Anyway it seems most people on this site are obsessed with commenting on SLB, for better or for worse. But some of the comments are really distasteful and steep into "low-life" territory, I have to say!!
I am passionate for my team like everyone else. But i almost always show respect for the other Liga teams in my comments, and I don't try to make a "war" out of things.. it's just a game at the end of the day! By stating the facts in my last post, that Sporting haven't won anything yet this season, and the fact that they are 4th in the Liga is clearly disappointing...is not arrogance and disrespectful, it's simply commentating on the reality.
I am a Benfiquista, but i certainly don't hate Porto or Sporting as a consequence. On the contrary, many of my family members are Sportinguistas...and I will always route for them, Porto or any other Portuguese club playing in Europe. I will definitely be routing for Sporting to win the Europa League. So perhaps we all just have to take it easy until the season is finally over, because we are still at a point where anything could happen, nobody has won or lost anything just yet!!
Benfica were hardly playing out of their class and were not embarrassed. They played some good games against some top opponents, being complacent with the europa league just shows that you're happy with being in a second tier tournament.
Anyways, well played by Sporting! They deserved the win. JJ should leave at the end of the season..
SCP outplayed Slb throughout the game.
Starting luisao was a huge mistake, he was slow and a liability.
Moving ahead of maritime is a big positive step for Sporting.
Is top three possible?? YES /is it realistic? NO /on this SCP has failed to achieve their goals.
This win is big- derby game is massive!
Show up and stop whining about it all .
I would love to see SCP win the Europa cup and Taca but if they don't will it be a good enough return on their investments? I think they're going to have to let go some of their popular hone grown players.
No need to single out the Sportinguistas for this one post and stating that they are arrogant. And then going on to saying that Porto fans have been arrogant ALL season long. Really? I mean its very ignorant of you to single out Porto and Sporting fans when you Benfica fans are in no means any better. Benfica fans such as yourself can be very arrogant at times, and dont you dare deny that fact.
Tip: Stop singling out Porto and Sporting fans and claiming they "showing their arrogance" or "have been arrogant all seaosn long", because you are no better. We are all to be honest, so I strongly suggest you come up with a different point of criticism.
Pathetic. Just take a loss man. Nothings over yet.
In regards to Sportings position in the table I'm actually very content with the way the season is ending a deep run in the europa league will bring in some cash to hold on to our new players from this year and give time for our academy to mature. As for qualifying for the champions league that would just be a waste to play out of our class like Benfica and come away embarassed. This way another year in the europa league with a more gelled squad will possibly provide another deep run and another flow of cash. News flash they don't play in the europa league for free. the taca portugal is just icing on the cake of a season that looked very glim after the winter break but came together in the end against the stronger teams.
Also all is not lost as Braga are only 8 points ahead and 12 points remain and still have to play Sporting. As you said Andre stranger things have happened and Sporting could very well be in the playoff spot or better baring a few "robberies" or as the rest of the league calling it "Benfica shooting themselves in the foot."
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.no pun intended
In any case, Wolfswinkel must be playing those opportunities over and over in his head.
Of course I would like SCP to finish at least in their current position for reasons of pride as a finish below Maritimo would be a shame in my opinion, no disrespect to Maritimo. But at the end of the day, 4th and 5th are both only good enough for the Europa League. I sincerely hope that if Sa Pinto is around next year that the team will finally have settled down to a point where they can have a consistent season. So while Sporting deserved this win, to me, it's little consolation if the team ends up with nothing to show for it at the end of the season. I love Sporting and will cheer for them against Bilbao, but I would be lying if I said I think they can pull it off, even after taking into consideration the fact that they beat City. Here's hoping though.
Secondly, you haven't won anything yet either. Bilbao will start as definite favourites against you in that EL semi, while the Taca De Portugal final is not a guaranteed win either. Lastly and most importantly, no Champions League this season or next season for you, 4th place is the best you're gonna get in the Liga...so don't start being arrogant as if this season has been a major success for you, cos you know it hasn't! How some of these posters are making it seem all of a sudden as if they've had a better season than us, is simply preposterous!
I repeat though this is aimed at those few stupid comments made here on this article...and not at Sportinguistas in general...the likes of Jorge and Bubba Zanetti generally make respectful and intelligent comments! Anyway still some way to go in the season, and things can still change, so let's see what materialises..
Forca Sporting
I agree the ref was once again brutal but I’m not going to take anything away from Sporting. Anytime either Benfica or Sporting are looking really good the refs come in and ensure we get screwed. It’s always the same story, we had refs cost us points with Guimaraes, Academica, and Porto which lead to our lead being destroyed. Sporting was coming off really good early on in the season before refs screwed them in back to back games.
As for JJ, he was 50/50 in my books at the start of the season, I was good with giving him a chance and even though we improved this year, I ticked off with how this season ended. I’m good if we get a replacement, as long as it’s an experienced manager with a top teams. If we’re going to fire JJ for a rookie manager from some mid-table team in Portugal, then no thanks, I would let JJ get another shot with the club. I’m not ready to see our team ripped apart by some rookie manager.
Sporting played well enough to win so congratulations. Sa Pinto is a breathe of fresh air and the team responded.
This is looking to similar to Real and Barca.as the head-2-head date approaches it seems Real might be looking up at Barca just like Benfica did after they lost to Porto.
As for Rodrigo, he hasn't been the same since the Bruno Alves foul.
I'm really disappointed in JJ and it pains me starting over with yet another manager, but I don't see how he comes back. New manager with certainly new players will take time.
By the way, most ref whining is being mentioned by Sporting fans.
Polgas' foul should have given Benfica the penalty, but I guess that ref was thinking more of what he preferred that night after, blondes, brunettes or redheads. Benfica did look tired, playing with no emotion or passion. Cardozo didnt do anything, Luisao penalty was just stupid, and Cesar played like crap, very weary and just drained. Its looking bleak for Benfica to win the league, even just a tie or a loss they are out!. and bye bye to Jesus this season, i think it will be his last and shown the door. I can def see Paciencia sp, or even Andre VBoas, maybe Frank rijaard sp, come in possibly. Who knows, what a awful season for Benfica...although props for making it to the semi's in the Champions league
Still...to say that our recent collapse has been disappointing is a massive under-statement! After an almost flawless first half of the season, we Benfiquistas were full of hope and expectation...but the reality is we have failed to recover from that first meaningful defeat away to Zenit. And some of our form since that defeat has been shocking to say the least! What is so disappointing is that we've allowed a below-par Porto team (even their own fans are admitting this fact!) to leap-frog us into first place.
As for the Derby last night, we can have no complaints really. Sporting played better and deserved to win. Yes it was a penalty on Gaitan in the first minute, no question, and had it been awarded things might've turned out differently. We just haven't had the breaks with decisions in both Chelsea matches and again last night. But this is not to make excuses, we just didn't play well enough last night to get anything from such a crucial game. Sporting played well and could've scored more for sure. They are ending the season really well and i congratulate them!
Our recent demise is down to 3 main factors in my opinion: First and foremost, our defence has remained dodgy all season long and just hasn't improved. The warning signs were already there in the early stages of the season, but our defensive play hasn't been properly addressed by JJ. A team that cannot keep clean sheets will invariably continue to drop points, full stop.
Secondly, a serious drop in form from some key players at a crucial time, all of whom made terrific starts to the season. This list includes Gaitan, Nolito, Maxi and mainly Rodrigo (what has happened to him?)
The third factor is the errors that JJ has made recently in formations and selections. Over-confidently playing 4-4-2 in tough away matches, such as Zenit, Guimaraes and Sporting last night, have really cost us dear. I know the Derby last night was a must win match, but surely he should've realised that Sporting have a very strong midfield and by only playing 2 in the middle of the park would've left us vulnerable to counters, and so it proved. I personally would've gone with 4-2-3-1 last night and with Nolito starting the match. He was fresh and rested and this was the sort of match he might've made an impact on. How was Djalo brought on ahead of him at half-time? Baffling decision!!
Anyway we just have to quickly move on from this and make sure we take maximum points from our last 4 fixtures, we really should be able to. Porto can only throw away the title now, but they have still have to finish it off, and still have 2 tricky fixtures left to play. Realistically it's unlikely, but i repeat: much stranger things have happened in this game then Porto losing to Maritimo and drawing with Sporting! So while there's still a chance, Benfica just have to carry on fighting and hopefully a break will come our way. Forca Sempre!!!
If you play like that against Bilbao you might be planning a trip to Bucharest in the not too far distant future...
It looked like men against boys out there, really impressive considering you had a long trip to Ukraine just a few days ago, compared to SLB's shorter trip to London and an extra days rest.
Im a sporting fan period! They played better wanted the game more. For a team that made I think 13 off season changes during the summer and a new coach half way in the season I think we can be proud of what we have done the last 2 months. I think the only mistake the board made was not bring in a sporting coach, aka Sa Pinto from the start, not that domingos was a bad coach he just was sporting blood, Sa Pinto is a lion at heart let's see if they keep him and what we can do from here
On the other hand you say big changes need to be made in Benfica so are you implying its a rebuilding year for them. When will the offside goals against gil vicente the 3 ridiculous penalties against Guimaraes the missed second yellows for javi garcia fail to keep that team afloat. In the end of this year you will have to swallow the pill knowing sporting club PORTUGAL took everything from Benfica. Just as last year Porto did. Before the end of the season you will him to be the biggest Sporting fan in the world to even give you a snowballs chance in hell at a title in 2012.
Sporting were much better and the score could be 4-0 or 5-0 if Artur did not play so well and if RVW took his chances and if the shot went in and not hit the crossbar.
And remember in Benfica-Braga it was a clear penalty to Braga when it was 0-0. Braga played much better in that game than Benfica play v Sporting but Braga did not cry about the referee after the game.
This is why people hate Benfica. They say nothing when the decisions are for them but they shout corruption when the decisions are not for them. Pathetic.
A few months ago I really thought you guys had this League in the bag. You guys were playing great and showing how to play real football. But all of sudden you guys lost you touch. Sad really.
Porto win most likely win this one again. And I am very happy since I am a die hard Porto fan. However I dont think they deserve it. We have a horrible coach, and we have been playing sub par this season to be honest. We are very lucky Benfica have slipped up because we were in no means in a good spot a few months back. Its not over yet of course, but its going to be very hard for Benfica now.
I think its JJ's time to go. Maybe the next coach in line for you guys will play more Portuguese players. Thats all I want in the end really.To get a good lineup for the Seleccao, and Benfica have an abundance of Portuguese youth that havent seen the light of day yet with JJ.
RE Robert: Ricky is not world class yet.
SLB were out played and that's it. Artur definitely kept it close but it could have easily been 4 nil. I don't agree with the Pk decision. Ricky was an origami man the whole match. I question the Yannick substitution and was disgusted with Cardozo. I also heard that JJ was again claiming to have been the better team and blaming the officiating. Team moral is the lowest at the most pivotal time in the season. Serious changes need to be made in the off season.
Let me add that I haven't seen a huge cry about the refs. It seems that Sportinguistas are bringing it up more. Although the amount of yellows was ridiculous.
As for Benfica, I'm sick. A horrible performance in a must win match. The team was just too flat at times, the same way they were verse Chelsea in the CL 1st leg.
Orlando is going to have plenty of people in the "fire JJ" bus, and I'm afraid I'm joining him. You can't have a team come out this flat in such critical games. I also don't want to hear about fatigue. We had a deep squad that proved to play well.
Also, how does Djalo even see the field in the last two matches. I'm sorry, but he's got no reason to come on before Nolito. I don't really care if he found himself with opportunities, since he didn't/doesn't finish. What could he have possibly have shown in limited training? This guy hasn't even played the whole first half of a season. It's like JJ was trying to catch lightning in the bottle, when it wasn't necessary. Absolutely horrible.
We already had to win the remaining of our matches with no guarantee of taking the league. Yes disappointment was still in order since this squad should have won something. A nice CL run is just that, nice. But in the end real silverware is what counts.
Second place is a must, since going through CL qualifiers is no easy task, especially with new faces coming in. Yes we'll sell some and buy some again. We're a selling club/league.
Frankly I'm not very confident we could finish second. It's sad, but Braga has been much more resilient than Benfica.
I'm sick over this one.
i rather see a 0-0 stalmate, then a game decided by a PK.
ABOLISH IT! and then we have equality.
Luisao’s penalty was just stupid. It wasn't likely to be a scoring opportunity. He didn't seem to grab van Wolfswinklel with enough force to spin him down, but he grabbed the neck. The ref had no choice but to put the ball on the spot. Just stupid.
I didn't see the no call against Gaitan.
van Wolfswinkel should have had another on the intercepted back pass. I don't see how a world class player misses there.
Sporting had all of the other great chances at goal.
It wasn't as if Patricio was tested like he was v. Metalist. nothing close really.
Benfica played as well as they could have in a very hostile and electric atmosphere. The Alvalade was a cauldron and you could see that Benfica were playing quite gingerly and not asserting themselves in the game. They were not playing with the intensity and drive they so aptly showed in the second half against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the CL.
Artur deserves Man of the Match. If not for his unbeleivable heroics and luck, this should/could have been a 4-0 demolition. Izmailov's screamer that bounced off the crossbar was a criminal act of luck that went Benfica's way. As were the two golden opportunities that Wolfswinkel had to slam it in the net that somehow didn't happen.
Artur should be thanking Sporting's turf that has been much maligned by some posters on this site recently, for allowing Wolfswinkel to slip and miss a "gimmee" goal while Artur was on the ground. Artur was lucky, so very, very lucky.
Regardless of the complaints that I know will follow regarding the referee not awarding a penalty kick following Gaitan being taken down by Polga in the first minute of play, anyone who saw the game will have to agree that as a team Benfica was outplayed and did not deserve to win.
This is not to say that Benfica's play was abysmal. If anything, Benfica did have a few chances that they could have capitalized on and they played good, hard, agressive football for stretches of the game. I actually have never realized how much of a wrecking ball Javi Garcia is! Javi can knock people around and cause havoc against opponents. Witsel was his usual serviceable and slick self. Unfortunately for Benfica, they got out-hussled. I also never tire of watching JJ's antics, arm motions and gestures on the sideline, it is great entertainment. The conversation between him and his former charge, Joao Pereira following the game was priceless.
So, in game one, Benfica takes the victory and in game two, Sporting takes the victory. 50/50 for the Lisbon Derby Version 2011/2012, could be worse. Also, as Benfica has beaten Sporting since the Liga season ended in 2010, I am just glad that we finally got back to our winning ways in Lisbon and have won against our great rival.
It was definitely a fun and great game to watch, and I hope that Sporting continues their great run of form in both the Liga, the EL and in the conquest of the Taca de Portugal. I have to say that Sa Pinto has definitely got his managerial start at Sporting off on the right foot.
Next up Athletic de Bilbao. Can't wait.
Don't let the eagle fly away on your way out.
Unless Porto really drop off Benfica no longer deserve this titles i dont know what happened to make them suddenly drop off so badly a few months ago but they are a team that lacks spirit and heart however thats a quality that Sporting have in truck loads and thats why they can play bad but they can also go toe to toe with the best there is.
Hopefully Porto will lose points. If not, it will be a very disappointing end to the season for Benfica. It will almost certainly mean the end of JJ's tenure at Benfica.