2005: Luisão's flight that led Benfica to the title

In an atypical League, in which so-called "big teams" lost more points than usual, a derby was  decisive to find out the Champion.

A packed Estádio da Luz , the Country stopped to see the biggest derby in Portugal. The referee, Paulo Paraty, gave the starting whistle at 7:45 pm.

Luisão scored with a header

83^rd minute: Petit takes a freekick on the left. The ball heads towards the penaltu area. Ricardo was not quick enough and Luisão got ahead. He jumped higher and opened the scoring. Huge celebrations in the stands.

The 11-year drought without a title was about to end. The final result at Luz 1-0!

The Estádio da Luz was the antechamber of a celebration that would have repercussion at Bessa. Boavista-Benfica was a final game of a long season. The eagles only needed a draw and that was the case. 1- all draw. Simão score through a penalty kick and Éder tied with a header

This is the second of the 14 promised moment of the new Estádio da Luz.

MATCH SHEET

Benfica-Sporting, 1-0

Matchday 33 of the National Championship

May 14th 2005

Estádio da Luz – 64 000 spectators

BENFICA

Starting line-up: Quim; Miguel (78’ Mantorras), Luisão, Ricardo Rocha, Manuel dos Santos; Petit, Manuel Fernandes, Nuno Assis (86’ João Pereira); Geovanni, Simão and Nuno Gomes (88’ Alcides)

Unused Substitutes: Moreira, Fyssas, Bruno Aguiar and Delibasic

Discipline: Yellow card to Ricardo Rocha (65’)

Goal: Luisão (83’)

Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni

SPORTING

Starting line-up: Ricardo; Miguel Garcia, Polga, Beto, Rui Jorge (66’ Tello); Custódio, Rochemback (73’ Hugo Viana), João Moutinho, Pedro Barbosa; Sá Pinto and Douala (70’ Pinilla)

Unused Substitutes: Nélson, Hugo, Rogério and Niculae

Discipline: Yellow card to Rui Jorge (52’), Rochemback (69’), Beto (81’) and Polga (90’); Red card to Beto (86’)

Goal: -

Coach: José Peseiro

Referee: Paulo Paraty

MATCH SHEET

Boavista-Benfica, 1-1

Matchday 34 of the National Championship

May 22nd 2005

Estádio do Bessa – 30 000 spectators 

BOAVISTA

Starting line-up: Khadim; Éder, Carlos Fernandes, Cadú, Hélder Rosário; André Barreto, Lucas, Guga (61’ Diogo Valente), José Manuel (86’ Nélson); Toñito and Cafú (58’ Hugo Almeida)

Unused Substitutes: William, Ambassa, João Pedro and Tiago

Discipline: Yellow card to Cadú (37’), Lucas (76’) and Éder (80’)

Goal: Éder (42’)

Coach: Pedro Barny

BENFICA

Starting line-up: Quim; Miguel, Luisão, Ricardo Rocha, Manuel dos Santos; Petit, Manuel Fernandes, Nuno Assis (78’ Mantorras); Geovanni (68’ João Pereira), Simão e Nuno Gomes (90’ Alcides)

Unused Substitutes: Moreira, Fyssas, Bruno Aguiar and Delibasic

Discipline: Yellow card to João Pereira (90’)

Goal: Simão (38’ PG)

Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni

Referee: Pedro Henriques

Text: Marco Rebelo