Match report: Boavista 0-1 Benfica
Benfica ruined ten-man Boavista’s homecoming at the Estadio do Bessa last night courtesy of a wonderful Eliseu strike on the stroke of half-time.
Boavista played their first top flight fixture at home for six years on Sunday - and put in a hard-working, tenacious display despite being outclassed.
A spiky contest saw Benfica dominate the ball for large swathes of the game without ever looking entirely comfortable - and there was almost a twist in the tail: Boavista substitute Brito’s goal disallowed inside the last ten minutes.
The visitors were clearly incensed by some of the decisions made by referee Marco Ferreira, who also sent off Boavista centre forward Bobo late on.
Carnival atmosphere
With the sun blazing down on a stand emblazoned with a rainbow, it was fitting that Boavista’s players stepped onto their home pitch prior to kick off to soak up a carnival atmosphere.
The Bessa had been given a lick of paint in preparation for its big day, but the stadium still retained something of the feel of a house hastily tidied for the visit of important guests.
And what distinguished visitors had travelled north: Benfica, ever-present diners at the top table of Portuguese football and current holders of a domestic Grand Slam.
Boavista, meanwhile, were just grateful that legal smallprint had swung forcefully in their favour, and that they were back in the league they famously won back in 2001.
The Panteras’ manager, Petit, was part of that Championship winning squad back then, but realistically knows his side are very unlikely to gatecrash the party at the top of the table this season.
New look Panthers
Petit’s squad has undergone more cosmetic change than Donatella Versace this summer and many of the players milling around the centre circle were making their home debut. Centre-forward Bobo and winger Julian were notable exceptions, but little was known about the majority of those starting the game in black and white, even by Boavista fans.
The opening minutes of the match passed without incident - much to the delight of Boavista who shipped a goal two minutes into their league campaign against Braga last weekend.
The hosts were understandably cagey given the quality of their opposition, while Benfica were taking their time to weigh up unknown adversaries.
Reluctant to play through the congested centre of the pitch, Benfica probed out wide Eliseu whipping in a cross that saw Jara onside and in space, but unable to accept the invitation.
Although the champions were dominating the ball, they looked rather one-paced in possession and Boavista were happy to let Luisao, in particular, waste the ball playing out of defence.
Benfica’s Brazilian Under-20 international Talisca tried to inject some life into proceedings with a snapshot on 22 minutes, but his ungainly effort flew over Daniel Moullor’s bar into Boavista’s jeering fans.
Eliseu thunderbolts
However, Eliseu soon followed Talisca’s lead with a cannonball of a shot that Moullor unconvincingly palmed to safety, with Nico Gaitan going close soon after with a scrambled effort.
The hosts were scampering and closing down to good effect, but, offensively, they were almost a non-existent force. Boavista midfielder Diego Lima took the bull by the horns on the half hour mark, though, bursting through a challenge to release Brayan Beckeles down the right. The Honduran’s quality let him down though, the midfielder zipping the ball into Artur’s grateful clutches.
Benfica had appeals for a penalty turned down soon after when Jara looked to be clipped surging into the box. However, referee Marco Ferreira booked Jara for a dive much to the consternation of Benfica coach Jesus and the travelling hordes.
The mood in the visiting stand improved greatly on 44 minutes, however, when they took the lead through Eliseu. Benfica recycled the ball after a lofted Gaitan free-kick and Eliseu powered home a great strike from outside the box via the post.
Jesus leaves pitchside
Half-time came with Petit consoling his troops and Jesus ushering one of his assistants, who was busy heckling referee Marco Ferreira, down the tunnel.
The second half got underway without Jesus in Benfica’s technical area. On the pitch, the game remained fairly low key, but Boavista were starting to create a few promising offensive situations, with Idrissa and Tengarrinha working doggedly to give them a platform in midfield.
However, Benfica’s greater attacking threat was still obvious Talisca forcing Moullor into a good stop and Gaitan lobbing over the frame of the goal after a lovely through ball from Almeida on 67 minutes.
Disallowed goal; Bobo dismissed
Benfica’s backline had been seemingly in cruise control, but they received a huge fright with just 10 minutes remaining when a ball was cleared to Boavista substitute Brito, who smacked home a fantastic effort. The home crowd’s joy was shortlived, however, as a linesman’s flag cancelled out the strike.
Boavista striker Bobo had gamefully put himself about, but his night ended prematurely with less than ten minutes left, after an attempt to handle the ball earned him a second booking.
However, rather than seeing out the game comfortably, Benfica looked rather rattled as the game reached its end, Reds players punting the ball aimlessly upfield rather than make their extra man pay.
There was time left for Lima to fire wide and another Boavista substitute, Pouga, to slot past Artur, only to be rightfully flagged for being a country mile offside.
The final whistle went and the points went back to the capital with a Benfica side who have taken maximum points from their opening two games.
Boavista, meanwhile, showed steel and spirit in a match that was never going to define their season; far more important for them will be how they fare against less illustrious opposition.
by Stephen Gillett
Boavista:
Moullor; Dias (Brito); Lucas; Philip Sampaio; Anderson Correia; Julian (Yoro Ly); Tengarrinha; Idrissa; Lima (Pouga); Bobo. Unused subs: Santos; Mika; Carvalho; Ancelmo Jr
Benfica:
Artur: Luisao; Amorim (Almeida); Gaitan (Derley); Lima; Maxi; Salvio; Eliseu; Jara (John); Talisca; Jardel. Unused subs: Lopes; Lisandro; Pizzi; Tiago
Goals:
[0-1] Eliseu, 44’
