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| Wednesday, 20 April 2011 13:40 |
Benfica have no answer to Porto brillianceBenfica 1-3 FC PortoA brilliant second-half performance from FC Porto at the Estadio da Luz saw the Dragons book their place in the final of the Portuguese Cup at Benfica's expense.Goals from Joao Moutinho, Hulk and Falcao overturned the 2-0 deficit from the 1st leg of the semi-final, and despite Oscar Cardozo's penalty Porto booked their place at Jamor on away goals. Benfica:
Julio Cesar, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Jardel, Fabio Coentrao, Javi Garcia (Kardec, 85), Jara (Aimar, 78), Carlos Martins, Cesar Peixoto (Weldon, 88), Saviola, Cardozo
FC Porto:
Beto, Sapunaru (Sereno, 86), Rolando, Otamendi, Alvaro Pereira, Fernando, Moutinho, Ruben Micael (James Rodriguez, 62), Hulk, Falcao, Cristian Rodriguez (Varela, 75)
Goals:
[0-1] Joao Moutinho, 64
[0-2] Hulk, 72
[0-3] Falcao, 74
[1-3] Cardozo, 80 (pen)
As it happened: |
Jara has also proven his worth, in my opinion.
I will admit that Kardec hasn't done anything, but he also hasn't gotten on the field.
In getting back to Makukula, even after he did so well for Kayserispor, his 21 goals led the league (2 penalties) they didn't purchase him.
Manisaspor, who finished 14th did. He only has 4 goals so far this season. They currently sit 13th.
I also think that people forget that Benfica scored 78 goals in league play last season. The last thing they needed was another scorer to come in.
Out of the 26 league goals, Cardozo only 6 of them came from penalties last season, He had a total of 38 goals in all competitions with a total of 10 penalties.
This season he only has 9 goals in league play, with only one of them being a penalty.
He has a total of 19 goals in all competitions, with 4 of them being penalties.
Clearly he just doesn't score on penalties.
JJ has won more with a oner year budget Braga would take a few years to spend.. Paciencia has done more with less.. how would you like to explain that one?
As for Mak he has had a few good seasons including the one at Maritimo and was never given a chance by Kinky Flowers or JJ both of whom are useless managers.
As for Jara he was better from the beginning and only in the late season was given an opportunity, JJ is swift on the uptake it takes a few hammer blows to the head before he realizes talent, meanwhile Saviola was a sack of crap for most of this season bar a mini streak he went on at one point.
It is sad that a 35 year old was the better option throughout the year, but JJ instead of trying to captilize on the form.. actually tried to devalue Nuno by bringing him in constantly with only a few minutes to play to dampen his stats but it backfired on him and Nuno kept on finding the net.
Maybe benching Saviola for more games would've resulted in his improved play, but JJ likes to ride his dead ponies.
JJ's genius was rewarded on multiple occasions this year, with failure.
Now you might be happy being 2nd place in a one horse league where all the other teams were having off years but for me it was a failure to be so far behind Porto when the other teams were bad, as we only played Porto twice. What were the other excuses?
Mark my words we might end up with no titles.. as the way this squad is playing Pacos & Braga are licking their lips.
Fortunately for JJ he has one of the highest paid squads and he still has some world talents to pull from Coentrao, Maxi, Luisao, & Cardozo won't go down easy and each one alone can win a game for you.
Just remember that JJ has only won 3 trophies in over a decade one with an awesome Braga team and two were with last years Benfica Monster Squad.. that should've won 4.
So his epic failures in big games on big stages still looms heavily over the Aguias.
I still think they will win the Bwin Trophy (Porta-Pottie) so I am sure you will be delighted, the Europa is definitely out of the question.
Although JJ could prove me completely wrong by masterminding a win against Porto in the Final as that Trophy is worth more to me than the Liga but that is highly unlikely.
As for the poster Nuno Gomes.. he is right I doubt very much JJ will be fired.. but I am praying on this holy weekend for a second coaching miracle.. first Queiroz now JJ to be fired.
Amen
It's fair to say Benfica messed up completely with Makukula. Big time too. I can compare Maku with Almeida because they are in the same league. Almeida has failed to score consistently and Makukula was lethal last year. How do Benfica fans know Makukula wouldn't perform? They never gave him a proper chance. Yet they have Kardec, and Weldon instead... WELDON... *Epic Face palm*. Weldon is not better than Maku! Only Jorge Jesus would keep Weldon and ditch Maku. Only Jorge Jesus would let Quim go and pick up a 9 million euro frango from spain... *Epic Face palm*
You know what? I really should forget about Miguel Vitor. If Benfica screws up I know Braga will pick him up like they did with Joao Perreira and Silvio. Who are now on the national team? No thanks to Benfica though. I'm just going to wait till the boy's contract ends.
Nuno Gomes is the best striker Benfica have. No I'm not kidding. Anybody who scores 5 goals in 90 minutes clearly knows his way to the back of the net. Cardozo scores alright... he scores penalties. Many penalties. Besides that Cardozo lacks the pace and positioning of Gomes. If you want my opinion, Cardozo is a disaster and personally, I wouldn't see him playing on a Braga 11 if he was on the Braga team. I'm actually serious.
Benfica is taking a nose dive, Sporting and Braga must capatilize next year. That's all that's needed to be said.
This is the only name I have. This is the only name I post comments with.
I love the Makukula comment. Guy has one good season in Turkey and he's now supposed to be our top priority. How we has he done this year? I think the season is almost over and he only has 4 goals. So I'm glad we didn't bid up his contract and sign him.
As for Nuno, he's a great player but some of the comments on here goes to show how little people know about Portuguese soccer. Nuno hasn't played recently because he's injured. He had an operation a few weeks back and there is no chance he will play any more games this season. He's 35 soon and has fitness issues. Maybe he should have come on more as a sub but at the same time we would have never played Jara then. Because we've played Jara as the sub we have found an amazing player that looks ready to replace one of our strikers for the long term.
Overall good season by Porto and Benfica has to settle being the second best team this year. On a side note its funny how Benfica fans are freaking out that we may only get 1-2titles this year. It just goes to show what high expectations this club has every season, something our troll Byran doesn't seem to understand. If Braga had a season like ours it would be their best season ever LOL.
By shredder I guess you mean we bring in players and sell them as soon as we can make money.
I guess I should welcome you to Portuguese Football. All the clubs are selling clubs. It's what Portoand Benfica have done in order to compete. You take a look at Sporting who kept the house in order and actually brought old players, and you see the mess.
Ref's always stink. I do agree with most that it's silly when teh ref tries to get control of a match by giving early yellows. In most cases they back themselves into a corner.
Let me add that the MLS refs are worse than in Portugal. Guys are killing each other with no cards in sight.
I do agree that Ramires is the most missed player in Benfica's squad.
Cardozo scores. As a Benfiquista, I don't care how it happens as long as it happens.
For all of JJ's faults he is much better than Quique. A guy that looks the part but is awful.
JJ's lineup selections and tactics baffle the mind at times. Orlando, like I mentioned previously, I too expected the worse when I saw the lineup and formation.
He will pay the price and get canned.
I can't believe that people are still screaming for Makukula. Really? Being a top scorer has a lot to do with squad make up, squad quality and tactics. Comparing Makukula to Almeida is silly.
If he was so great why didn't Braga go and pick him up? Braga could have used the scoring last year. Why not Sporting that also needed scoring?
I understand that Nuno Gomes is the face of the franchise, but to say that he is NOW overall better than Saviola, Cardozo and others, is also very silly. Nuno deserves plenty of praise, but lets be realistic.
People, or I should say Bryan, is still calling for Miguel Vitor. He is playing for a midtable Championship League (2nd Div.) in England. That's the guy that's the best that Benfica can go get. Why don't we go nab Miguel's teamate Bamba who is more experienced and better?
Remember that we have already brought in defenders, and even some that are coming on free transfers.
Porto deserves all the accolades for teh wonderful season they are having.
But, I would love to meet them once again in the Europa League final. A final is a final and I would always prefer another shot.
Let me also add that if Benfica beat Porto in that final, it would enhance our season much more than deminish Porto's.
That a praise, Tripeiro's. And no, Tripeiro's is not a slur.
I was so angry after this match, so the first thing I did was NOT go and post on a site. I collected my thoughts and tried not to go too crazy.
I don't mean to be insulting but it makes it very hard to understand what you are saying especially the rhetorical parts to offer a decent reply.
In your quotation of me you forgot the words "MOST Benfica fans on HERE have been giving props rightfully all year to AVB & your squad."
On PortuGoal which clearly you haven't read too often besides the few odd balls all the loyal Benfiquistas have been praising Porto especially after the 5 goal first game.
If you are throwing rocks at a glass house you have to build yours a little stronger and in this post alone you can see Classless lives on both sides of the fence in the red & blue houses.
Just because you can give a valid opinion without team tinted glasses does not make you a "Turncoat" it makes you realistic.
Also scouring and only remembering a couple of negative posts instead of the majority good makes you as good as the same loonies you are complaining about.
As for the comments on the Ref complaining.. as I stated earlier both teams ham it up.. and have gotten away with murder on multiple occasions. That is why there are always complaints.. it isn't prejudice it is fact that there have been many bad decisions on both sides of the fence every game that is played between the two sides. If you don't understand that then you might not be altogether there.
Take yesterdays offside and the non-penalty on Saviola.. take those two away.. as a Portista said earlier would've resulted in extra time and not a win for Porto.
But as a few Benfiquistas posted that wouldn't have made a difference and they conceded Porto would've won anyways.
Now I hate Hulk with a passion but I don't blow up the team bus because of one player, and you shouldn't carry in a machine gun to do the job of one hand gun shot to the head or else you end up shooting a lot of innocent bystanders.
Now I appreciate some people might have pissed in your bowl.. but there is no reason to spritz everyone's bowl is there.
Take the license plate of the car that hit you then rent a Monster Dump truck from Alaska and run over his house when only he is at home.
Also in my humble opinion, I think Makukula, Nuno Gomes, Joao Tomas and me, Julien, should be the deadly SLB strikers.
Apart from the 20 penalties for Cardozo and playing most part of the games against 10, 9 or 8 last season, would like to say that the loss of Ramires and the terrific duo Ramires-Javi Garcia was the key apart from the loss of Di Maria that did all the "food" for Cardozo goals or penalties last season. Of course apart from the shredder stupid SLB "machine" that is able to destroy the career of any one and their handler and dirty staff.
Nuno Gomes is better than Cardozo and Saviola. Whether or not Maku could have been a top striker at Benfica was unknown but JJ didn't want to take that chance. Makukula was in the form of his life and was the top striker in Portuguese football last year and was overlooked by Queiroz and Jorge Jesus. People said, ohhhh he's in a weak league but now Almeida is in the same league and can't score like Makukula.
I don't know if Miguel Vitor is better than Jardel but he's certainly better than Sidnei and he has more experience than Sidnei... at least in the CL he does.
Right now, Braga is trying to get Joao Pedro. A young, 23 year old, portuguese defender from Aves. I'm guessing to replace Rodriguez when Rodriguez heads to Sporting. So I'm guessing Braga won't be getting Miguel Vitor.
I'm hoping Nuno Gomes goes to Braga... and proves his value against Benfica next year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fs_wdw7o_E
http://www.record.xl.pt/storage/ng1144247.jpg?type=big
What about Carlos Martins aggression? Nonexistent yellow cards? Hulk penalty? Saviola diving? Constant slb divings on first half?
Nop! Most important, second goal on offside. Porto cheats!!!!
Orlando Mac said:
"Most Benfica fans on here have been giving props rightfully all year to AVB & your squad"
I thought they were giving props all year how Porto cheated the refs. After two humiliations in your own stadium on about two weeks they are dressing now the gentleman turncoat. Last year (and this currently year) called us porkos, hooligans, cheatears and the worst possible and imaginary (probably not Orlandomac case). So now they're the gentlemans that have praised AVB and Porto team? Give me a break!
eg. AVB and PdC frequent praisings to JJ this season, what about LVF and JJ on Porto? I would like to find on youtube what Vieira said in Brasil about this Porto season and the "apagao" to paste it in the face of all benfiquistas about the type of person who runs your club!
A good sportsman and club knows how to learn of defeats and to be on victories. I fear the red team not even know one thing nor the other (not all, obviously).
Thanks for reading!
It all comes down to management, formations, player selections, and timely control. That is what makes a great Manager. He can take an average team and make them exceptional or a better team greater.. as is the case across the street for both Braga & Porto.
JJ can take a great team and make them win narrowly, and take a good team as he has this year and make them look pathetic.
His biggest mistakes are player selection. Moreira is better than the two Frangos but he is 3rd choice, Airton for me is better than Javi & Peixoto, Nuno Gomes is still better than Saviola & Kardec albeit injured so is Weldon for that matter and he has rarely if ever played.
Quim is better than his two Frangos put together.. yet he dispatched him as well as Big Mak.. he also prefers Sidnei to Jardel & Vitor.. that clearly is not the case either.
How many losses is it going to take on the big nights before they realize this guy craps his pants on the biggest stages with his genius moves.
Anyways as for the game Porto as has done all season deserved the victory. Congratulations to all the decent Porto fans and to AVB and his squad they deserve all the applause.
As for the Reffing it is always a sad state.. even Hulk who is normally the Portuguese diving champ was given a poor yellow... for a dive.. never thought I would ever say that...lol
There was questionable goals as is usually the case especially betweens these two teams.. as both teams were hamming it up and fouling hard and in grevious fashions.
Responsibility for their conduct has to fall upon the Ref.. as usual they start brandishing cards for nothing and more play acting comes and frustrations build until it is an all out frenzy.
Both teams are too blame some of the bs posts on here make me laugh. This game was dirty on both sides.
The Ref should pull the captains at the start and tell them straight up we are going to have a clean game. Good hard clean tackles will be awarded, first dirty tackle I see will result in a RED. Anyone similuating will be given a yellow, and if anyone comes up and touches my shirt or your team surrounds me I will definitely red card someone. I only speak to captains.. do I make myself clear.
Then I would walk in and call fouls fouls.. and Ref normally.. it is like these Refs like being the center of attention.. so that they can feel important.
Also the projectile crap again I saw a few things chucked on the field from the Reds side.. this has to end.. CCTV & club card them all.. NOW!
Last but not least.. to a few of the Portistas that posted on here with the classless posts commenting on what others said last season or all out taunting.. What makes you any better than those you are complaining about. You just look like little classless babies.
Most Benfica fans on here have been giving props rightfully all year to AVB & your squad, celebrating is one thing and it should be promoted.. but some of the comments were CLASSLESS.
Anyways again I would like to congratulate Porto for their great comeback victory Falcao, Moutinho, etc.. impressed and were full marks for the victory.
I just wish we could've saw last years Benfica with Paciencia as boss vs this years Porto with AVB at the helm.. that would've been a magical game of Portuguese football.
Azul e Branco
I personally think that the JJ approach to this game wasn't correct and did not correspond to what he said last week. SLB's game on first half was very clear, passing time, throw themselves into the ground at the slightest touch and ensure Porto will lose patience.
Once again we should praise our players and staff. They're amazing! They've controlled the nerves and the game with a great class. Looks easy but it's not. No more brilliant words to describe this team.
Now let's focus the final against Guimaraes, the final that others would gain LOL.
By the way, this ref' will also have an evaluation of "very good" like the other one? In part he was synchronized with the home team game in several times!
What is the excuse now? The ref? New corruption case? Porto "barbarians" fans? Hulk and Falcao dives? The magnetic field of the earth? I'm waiting Viera sincere, honest and moralist explanations or a tour on Angola or Brazil to escape the pressure from non-benficatv journalists. Ah wait! The show must go on! It seems that there is already a new truck for players coming to liven up the nation after the frustration.
p.s - I've heard FCP will buy da Luz stadium to promote parties, is it true?
p.s1 - Remember last year by this point, the exaggeration and excitement around the red team even when they were not still champions. JJ was better than Mourinho, SLB the best team in the world ready to win CL, the whole country drunk of their own stupidity giving themselves the luxury of joking with rivals face. And now????
FORCA BENFICA !!!
5 games, 4 Porto wins, and a combined scoreline of 12-4... seriously, is there any doubt anymore?
2011 is shaping up to be one of the more unforgettable years in Porto's history!
E quem nao salta é lampiao, allez, allez!
I'm sorry for Benfica,,their only hope is Europa league now,,if they get zero titles this season,,JJ must be sacked
The officiating was just bad all around. Rodriguez should have been sent off and there was absolutely should not have been a penalty against Porto. This is football though and I accept that. Other than the lose, it was a fun experience at the local Portuguese pub. Unfortunately, I think this may have a negative effect on team moral going into the Braga ties. We'll see.
Hulk was offside but the penalty on Sapunaru was baloney, so those cancel out. Believe it or not, it is probably a positive thing for slb; their equilibrium is restored and their quality(or lack thereof) is showing. They are proud and well supported, but that only helps when thinking of the past. They can stop dreaming and get back to reality now.
Did anyone see Sapunaru at the end of the match? It appeared he charged at a steward? Was it the steward the the tunnel fiasco in 2009?
This is embarrassing in so many levels. Porto has a tremendous squad and deserves all the accolades it's been receiving.
But, how do we come home with a 2-0 away goal lead and not advance?
Nice ball movement by Porto in the first goal, but we had six, SIX, players behind the ball, yet no pressure on the shooter. Moutinho received it, settled it, made a cake, and then shot.
Hulk was offside for the second, but once again beautiful ball movement. Jardel was coming back fast on the back end of the play, which could have affected the line judge.
The third goal is inexcusable. I know that Falcao was in the box, but he had so much space to receive the ball. Again, plenty of defenders back, but nobody closing. Tough deflection.
Yes it was a penalty. Saviola was impeded. If he wasn't hit, there would have been no ball to arm.
Regardless, this is a pathetic display. Can we please shelve Peixoto. I can only assume that he is playing now, so it won't be a shock when he replaces Coentrao. That's not good.
Our midfield set up was awful. This was not the game to go with a 4-3-3. I know our 4-diamond 4-2 hasn't worked against Porto, but even I know that a 4-3-3 isn't going to either. Martins never gets back well, and isn't any good defending wide. Porto had acres of space.
I would have prefered a 4-2-3-1 type lineup. Put Airton and Javi as the two holding mids. It still allows for some creativity up top. We needed to clog up play at midfield.
And Joao, now you are going to tell us all, how AVB put out a lesser squad? Why, Varela didn't start?
Hulk, Falcao, Moutinho, Micael (who will prove to be much better than Belushi). Fucile is injured.
If anything I got really nervous once our lineup was announced.
Can we also stop killing Roberto. The season is done and dusted, and let's see how he fares in the upcoming Europa games. He's here to stay and hopefully he'll settle down and be able to give up the easy ones.
He has made some tremendous saves to go along the "frangos"
Now the next big step Europa League!!
POOOORTOOO POOOORTOOO
carlos martins needs to be sent to boavista or something. he dove to the ground almost every time someone came near him not to mention he should have gotten a second yellow for kicking the back of alvaro's leg.
I know ill get a lot of hate for this but we all know how it is. I think Benfica should change their kit to yellow however, it seems we always get booked for the right tackles, while other walk away with warnings instead of yellow/reds.
As of now i don't look forward to these games anymore, only to the true classic of portugal Benfica x Sporting. Thats a game which neither side ever gets favoured and the best team wins.
Can't wait for Braga x Benfica now. I'll b cheering for both!
P.S: I cant believe Roberto didnt play LOL, i hope to god he wont anymore anytime soon, next on he list to sack: JJ.