Last week was a tremendous success for Portugal’s clubs in UEFA competitions in the men’s game with four victories and one draw in five matches, and the nation’s clubs involved in women’s football followed suit tonight.
In two rescheduled games in the wake of yesterday’s postponements owing to Storm Charles, Benfica and Torreense won their home matches against Austria Wien and Sparta Prague respectively.
Benfica 3-1 Austria Wien
Benfica secured a second win in four matches in the league phase of this season’s Champions League.
The Eagles had the perfect start at the Estádio da Luz when Andreia Norton fired home from close range to give Benfica a 5th-minute lead.
The Austrians equalised early in the second half, Carina Wenniger converting a penalty after Benfica goalkeeper Lena Pauels had fouled Valentina Potzl.
The match turned in the 72nd minute upon the dismissal of Austria Wien goalkeeper Jasmin Pal, who was sent off after hauling down Flourish Sabastine when the Nigerian had dribbled round her.
Benfica quickly profited from their numerical advantage, Caroline Moller scoring in the 76th minute, and the Dane then set up Nycole Raysla for the third goal in stoppage time.
With this victory, Benfica move up to 9th place in the 18-team league with two matches remaining to give themselves a good chance of progressing to the playoff round. The Portuguese champions play Italian side Roma at home and Danish outfit HB Koge away in their remaining two matches in the league phase.
It is a tremendous improvement from last season when the Lisbon club managed only 2 points from their 6 matches in the league stage of the competition.
Torreense 3-0 Sparta Prague (aggregate score: 5-2)
Torreense men’s team have made headlines all over the world with their amazing performances in Europe such as last week’s sensational 3-2 win over Ararat Armenia, and the women’s team representing the town of Torres Vedras is also making waves.
Torreense women are third in the Portuguese league, just three points behind leaders Benfica, and tonight they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Europa Cup – the secondary UEFA club competition in women’s football – in some style.
A fortnight ago, Torreense and Sparta Prague had fought out a 2-2 draw in the Czech capital, but the Portuguese team were far too strong on home soil this afternoon.
An early penalty converted by Janiana Weimer, and second-half goals by Catarina Pereira and Gerda Konst gave Torreense a 3-0 victory to win the tie 5-2 on aggregate and book their place in the quarter-finals of the competition.
Torreense will play Norwegian side Brann in the last eight, the two legs scheduled for early February next year.
