Benfica 2-1 Sporting
A typically full-blooded Lisbon derby, played at high pace, not always of the highest quality, and seasoned with a generous dose of controversy, was won by Benfica this evening to keep the Portuguese champions clear at the top of the table.
The home team went into the interval leading thanks to a brilliant breakaway goal by Salvio, with Sporting complaining that two penalties should have been awarded to them, the first of which was at the origin of the Benfica goal.
Benfica doubled their lead early in the second half through Jiménez, but Sporting came roaring back, with Bas Dost heading into the net in the 69th minute, and only some fine saves by Ederson prevented the visitors from taking a share of the points. Benfica are top of the standings, increasing the gap to four points ahead of the second-placed team, which is now Porto, with Sporting a further point behind.
Rafa surprise
Rui Vitória pulled a surprise by making Rafa Silva, who has only recently returned to action after injury, a starter in place of Cervi, while Raul Jiménez kept his place at the top of the attack with Kostas Mitroglou on the bench.
Sporting coach Jorge Jesus selected what has become his team's first-choice XI, with captain Adrien Silva and winger Gelson Martins deemed fit enough to play despite reported flu symptoms in the past few days.
After Gelson Martins and Rafa Silva had tame efforts easily dealt with by the goalkeepers, an even, fast-paced and somewhat chaotic first half ensued. Bryan Ruiz and Bruno César saw efforts saved be Ederson, but neither side were managing to put together much in the way of cohesive passing moves.
That changed midway through the half as first Sporting came close as Bas Dost began a swift break by Sporting down the left flank, with Bruno César swinging in an inviting cross that the stretching Dutch striker just failed to touch into the net.
The very next move comprised an electrifying break by Benfica, with Guedes finding Rafa, who produced a sumptuous Quaresma-like "trivela" cross with the outside of his right foot, that the sprinting Salvio directed into the top corner without breaking stride. It was a magnificent team goal, although Sporting complained that it had started with a handball in the Benfica box by Pizzi.
Sporting had enjoyed the better of the play up to that point, but the goal settled Benfica, and the Eagles almost doubled their lead shortly before the interval as an inadvertent header by Bryan Ruiz into his own box put Raul Jiménez clean through, but Rui Patrício produced a superb reflex save to deny the Mexican. Meanwhile, Sporting were again complaining to the referee as Nelson Semedo cut out a cross with his arm near the goal-line, but the referee ignored shouts for a penalty.
Campbell shakes things up
Sporting coach Jorge Jesus brought on Joel Campbell at the break, and the Costa Rican would play his finest 45 minutes since arriving in Portugal, causing no end of problems to the right side of the Benfica defence. But it was through his only incursion on the opposite flank that the Lions came desperately close to getting an equaliser, as his perfect cut-back to Bas Dost resulted in the striker thumping a shot against the post with Ederson beaten.
What could so easily have been 1-1 was then 2-0 as Nelson Semedo's cross was headed in from close range by the diving Raul Jiménez.
Far from letting their heads drop, Sporting piled forward, with Campbell especially causing all sorts of problems for Benfica with his strong and direct running and trickery on the left wing. Ederson did well to deny William Carvalho and Bas Dost in quick succession, but the visitors pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when another surging run by Campbell took out three Benfica defenders, and his pinpoint cross left Dost with the simple task of heading in from close range.
Sporting continued to attack in numbers, and Ederson did well to cut out several dangerous crosses, usually coming from the foot of Campbell, but clear-cut chances were now not appearing, with Benfica, and especially substitute Cervi, doing a good job at alleviating the pressure, breaking up Sporting's rhythm and keeping the ball far from Ederson's penalty box in the final 15 minutes.
Benfica took the spoils this afternoon, but on the evidence of recent weeks - and today's match - the Portuguese title race is set to be an exciting 3-way fight right to the wire.
by Tom Kundert, at the Estádio da Luz
Benfica: Ederson, Semedo, Luisão, Lindelof, André Almeida, Salvio (Danilo, 55′), Pizzi, Fejsa, Rafa (Samaris, 90’+1), Guedes (Cervi, 64′), Jiménez
Sporting: Rui Patrício, João Pereira, Coates, Rúben Semedo, Zeegelaar, Gelson, William, Adrien, Bruno César (Campbell, 46′), Bryan Ruiz (Alan Ruiz, 60′), Bas Dost (André, 84′)
Goals:
[1-0] Salvio, 25′
[2-0] Raúl Jiménez, 47′
[2-1] Bas Dost, 70′
