A cruel and unfair ending!

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Undeserving of such punishment, Benfica lost (1-0) against Chaves, this Saturday, April 15, in a game from matchday 28 of the Liga Bwin, held at the Estádio Municipal Eng.º Manuel Branco Teixeira. A match that ended up shrouded in controversy!

Neres' inclusion in the starting line-up in place of the suspended Florentino, displacing Aursnes to the central corridor, and the return of Otamendi to the center of defense were the only changes from the last eleven that took the pitch. 

At 19', Benfica had the first big goal opportunity of the match. Rafa, after a pass from Gonçalo Ramos, took a strong shot, with the ball going just over the bar of Paulo Vítor's goal.

Another dangerous play came only at 30', when Gilberto, on the right, crossed into the heart of the Flaviense area, where António Silva, unmarked, hit hard over the goal.

The second half started with two great scoring opportunities for Benfica, both in the same play by João Mário at 47'. Grimaldo made the cross towards João Mário, who, in the first shot, saw Bruno Langa clear the ball over the goal line, and, in the rebound, it was Paulo Vítor, with his right foot, deflecting another shot from the Portuguese international.

Chaves responded on 52', when Juninho managed to speed down the central corridor and end up with only Odysseas to beat. The Benfica goalkeeper responded to the shot with a fantastic save with his left glove.

Rafa, at 90'+2', made a dangerous shot, with the ball hitting an opposing defender, and, after the corner kick, the most polemic play of the match occurred.

Aursnes took the corner on the right, Musa deflected the ball, it hit a Flaviense defender and went to Otamendi. Benfica's captain headed for a first incomplete save from Paulo Vítor, the ball was at the mercy of the central defender, who saw his left foot blocked by the keeper's right arm and his leg stepped on by João Pedro. Referee João Pinheiro did not call anything, and VAR António Nobre did not alert the referee of the match.

At 90'+4', Chaves scored the 1-0. Abass Issah recovered the ball that escaped Otamendi's control, beat Odysseas, and set the score of the match.

Benfica remains in the top spot of the Liga Bwin with 71 points, and, in the next round, MD 29, they host Estoril, in a match scheduled for Sunday, April 23, at 6 pm, at Estádio da Luz. Before that, on Wednesday, April 19, at 8 pm, the eagles will travel to Inter Milan's home ground, in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.