Ramos' premonition

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Benfica beat Boavista by 3-1, this Monday, February 20, at Estádio da Luz, in a game from matchday 21 of the Liga Bwin. Gilberto, Gonçalo Ramos and Musa scored for the eagles.

When at 72' João Mário missed the penalty that would give Benfica the 2-1, Gonçalo Ramos cheered up his teammate and told him he would score the goal for him. An omen from the Benfica striker, who, 10 minutes later, in a stroke of genius reminiscent of the Brazilian Romário, scored the promised goal and left the more than 55 thousand fans present at Estádio da Luz celebrating.

Bah, suspended, was replaced by Gilberto in the starting XI, in this return of the reds to the Estádio da Luz, after two games away from home.

A one-way traffic first half, in which Odysseas didn't make a single. The Benfiquistas were playing well and, at 25', a goal was shouted at Estádio da Luz. However, Gonçalo Ramos' shot was close to the post and rolled into the side netting.

0-0 at half-time, and Roger Schmidt looked on the bench for someone to break lines. He found the answer in Neres (Florentino came off), and the Brazilian international brought to the match a huge red tide that smothered Boavista in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

At 53', Neres, after a combination with Rafa, was unable to beat Bracali, but, two minutes later, a goal was finally shouted at Estádio da Luz. Grimaldo made a cross into the penalty box and, after Rafa headed the ball to a great save by Bracali, Gilberto appeared in the right place to shoot straight into the Boavista goal (1-0).

In the 58th minute, a good cross from Kenji Gorré, that Yusupha seized to score the equalizer (1-1). 

At 69', Rafa was stepped on by Sasso in the penalty area. Alerted by the VAR, referee Helder Malheiro saw the images of the pitch and awarded a penalty kick for Benfica.

João Mário missed the penalty (for the first time playing for Benfica) and nerves were on edge in the Cathedral stands. Schmidt changed the team again and launched Guedes in place of Rafa.

At 82', after a good pass from Gilberto, Gonçalo Ramos gave his omen and put the ball in the back of Boavista's net. 2-1 at Estádio da Luz, Benfica was back in the lead and didn't make the same mistake again.

The checkmate was done in stoppage time (90'+2') by Musa, who gave João Mário redemption, after making the best of the excellent cross from the Benfica number 20.

3-1 for Benfica, which maintains the five-point lead in the top of the Liga Bwin. The reds will play again on Saturday, February 25, at 8:30 pm, in Vizela, on matchday 22.