Unfair draw in the derby!

Saturday started with the appealing Futsal derby. SL Benfica and Sporting CP looked horns in Round 18 of the Liga Sport Zone. 2-all draw at the final whistle.

A very tactical match, with few goal opportunities in the early minutes. After the 10-minute mark, the Eagles started mounting up the pressure and the goal happened naturally. Fábio Cecílio, at 13’, in a superb individual play, shoots to open the scoring.

Minute 15, a spectacular collective play, with Fernandinho extending the lead! With 2-0 Benfica kept the foot on the throttle, against a Sporting team that was trying to react., with the Eagles, intelligent and mature, saying no!

Close to the break, goal from Sporting… another good goal! Dieguinho made a shot that gave Cristiano no chance (2-1).

In the second half, goal chances for both teams, with the artists on the court being able to find the few open spaces and, at 37’, the equalizer. Varela seized a defensive lack of attention and put the ball in the back of the net.

In the last minute of the match, João Matos hit Tiago Brito and was awarded a penalty kick. Raúl took the responsibility but he allowed André Sousa to make the save… but the referee repeats the penalty! In the repetition, the Spaniard struck the cross bar.

The derby ended with a draw and Benfica has 46 points, in the 2nd place of the table in this 1st stage, six points behind the leader Sporting (52 points).

Benfica's  staring lineup: Cristiano, Fábio Cecílio, Bruno Coelho, Robinho and Deives.

Tex: Sónia Antunes

Pics: Isabel Cutileiro / SL Benfica