Match Report


S.L. BenficaS.L. Benfica     Rio AveRio Ave
Matt SnapeMatt Snape Borja Legaz Borja Legaz
Hannes LindemannH. Lindemann68
G
1
G
76Dumitru StingaD. Stinga
Wayne FentonW. Fenton71
D
2
D
74Jorge AntunesJ. Antunes
Jose FonsecaJ. Fonseca68
D
3
D
76Matthias BierhoffM. Bierhoff
Fernando SantosF. Santos60
D
captain4
D
77Anton KohlerA. Kohler
Henry MidgleyH. Midgley77
D
5
D
80Chance RobinsonC. Robinson
Paulo CastroP. Castro90
M
6
M
81Samuel PinheiroS. Pinheiro
John NivenJ. Niven70
M
7captain
M
90Ricardo JardimR. Jardim
Maurice Van De WeyM. Van De Wey80
M
8
M
78Pedro MoutinhoP. Moutinho
Fabrizio RinaldiniF. Rinaldini66
A
9
A
77Gaspar AlmeidaG. Almeida
Miguel FariaM. Faria69
A
10
A
78Frederico SoaresF. Soares
Jose MoreiraJ. Moreira72
A
11
A
91Miguel RibeiroM. Ribeiro
 
Carlos LimaC. Lima66
M
12
D
72Quim CarvalhoQ. Carvalho
Samuel LimaS. Lima65
D
13
M
79Rui CarvalhoR. Carvalho
Quim LoureiroQ. Loureiro65
A
14
A
85Tonci VukojaT. Vukoja

Team Photoshop
today's match is sponsored by Team Photoshop
Match Report
There are a few clouds overhead here at Estádio da Luz where S.L. Benfica play host to Rio Ave. A crowd of 18,406 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in poor condition.
Both S.L. Benfica and Rio Ave are lined up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Today's match is refereed by Joao Barros.


0.00
Rio Ave kick off and get the match underway!
2.52
Jose Fonseca darts forward. Jose Fonseca makes a probing pass to Miguel Faria. Miguel Faria shoots from 25 yards but somehow Dumitru Stinga manages to keep it out.
9.23
Miguel Faria surges forward with the ball. Miguel Faria knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Dumitru Stinga who gathers it comfortably.
10.59
Samuel Pinheiro flicks the ball to his team mate, Gaspar Almeida. Gaspar Almeida finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is a match for it. Good save!
14.03
Matthias Bierhoff sees Samuel Pinheiro in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Samuel Pinheiro sees space and advances. Samuel Pinheiro knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
20.38
Paulo Castro sees space and advances. Paulo Castro plays a perfect one-two with John Niven and rushes in on goal... Some good footwork from Paulo Castro provides some space. He shoots at goal but it is tipped over by Dumitru Stinga.
21.51
Paulo Castro takes a short corner kick, passing the ball to Miguel Faria. Miguel Faria deftly flicks the ball on. Wayne Fenton muscles his way past his marker and unleashes a shot at goal but connects badly, narrowly missing the linesman!
22.57
John Niven takes a quick throw-in. Paulo Castro makes a simple pass to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira shoots from 20 yards. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is more than a match for it. Good save!
26.23
Pedro Moutinho decides to run forward with the ball. Pedro Moutinho knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
28.28
Paulo Castro makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Fabrizio Rinaldini. Fabrizio Rinaldini makes a great pass forward. Miguel Faria runs clear and latches on but the linesman indicates offside!
33.01
S.L. Benfica are in full control of this game.
34.59
Ricardo Jardim makes a probing pass to Gaspar Almeida. Gaspar Almeida whips in a cross ball towards Frederico Soares. Frederico Soares connects with a diving header. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
42.29
Anton Kohler runs forward with the ball. Anton Kohler threads a neat ball through to Miguel Ribeiro. Miguel Ribeiro knocks in a cross ball towards Gaspar Almeida. Gaspar Almeida connects with a diving header but slams it into the crowd!
45.00
Jose Fonseca sees Maurice Van De Wey in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Maurice Van De Wey runs straight at the opposition's defence. Maurice Van De Wey knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Dumitru Stinga who gathers it comfortably.
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!

Both teams emerge for the second half. S.L. Benfica appear unchanged since the first half. Rio Ave also appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
The whistle blows and S.L. Benfica kick off!
47.45
Matthias Bierhoff makes a probing pass to Ricardo Jardim. Ricardo Jardim makes an attacking run forward. Ricardo Jardim finds some space and shoots from distance but it goes wide for a goal kick.
49.21
Chance Robinson kicks a strong pass forward to Matthias Bierhoff. Matthias Bierhoff flicks the ball to his team mate, Frederico Soares. Frederico Soares knocks in a cross ball towards Samuel Pinheiro. Samuel Pinheiro beats his man to it with a header. Hannes Lindemann is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
53.14
Anton Kohler clumsily knocks into Maurice Van De Wey. Anton Kohler is given a warning by the referee! Maurice Van De Wey carries on, but is struggling a bit.
53.14
Free kick to S.L. Benfica just outside the area...
54.43
Paulo Castro slowly runs up and curls the ball around the wall. It's too high and doesn't trouble the keeper.
55.50
Wayne Fenton makes a strong solo run forward. Wayne Fenton knocks the ball forward to Fabrizio Rinaldini. Fabrizio Rinaldini shoots from 25 yards. The ball takes a deflection leaving Dumitru Stinga with no chance!! Goal for S.L. Benfica!
60.44
S.L. Benfica have made a substitution with Carlos Lima replacing Maurice Van De Wey .
65.35
Pedro Moutinho comes in with a late challenge on Jose Fonseca. The referee warns Pedro Moutinho to calm down! Jose Fonseca stretches but gets up unharmed.
67.08
Carlos Lima threads a neat ball through to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira lofts in a cross ball towards Carlos Lima. Carlos Lima knocks the ball goalwards with his head. Anton Kohler clears it off the line with his head!
71.53
Samuel Pinheiro flicks a high pass forward. Gaspar Almeida collects the pass. Gaspar Almeida knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Fernando Santos.
77.37
Ricardo Jardim threads the ball through to Frederico Soares. Frederico Soares shoots from 20 yards but it rises well off target!
79.22
Pedro Moutinho threads a neat ball through to Ricardo Jardim. Ricardo Jardim shoots from 20 yards. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Good keeping!
81.56
Paulo Castro sees Carlos Lima in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Carlos Lima sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball flies a good few feet wide of the post.
87.46
Matthias Bierhoff runs forward with the ball. Matthias Bierhoff flicks the ball to his team mate, Gaspar Almeida. Gaspar Almeida sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but Hannes Lindemann reads it well. Fabulous save!
90.00
The referee blows the final whistle

Match Statistics
 

S.L. Benfica

Rio Ave
Goals
1
2
Shots on Target
5
5
Shots off Target
3
3
Offsides
2
0
Fouls
0
2
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
57.1%
42.9%
Play Area
26.2%
47.6%
26.2%

Scorers
Fabrizio Rinaldini 56
Frederico Soares 35
Samuel Pinheiro 49

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Samuel Pinheiro of Rio Ave

Match Ratings
1.Hannes Lindemann (GK)
7
2.Wayne Fenton (DEF)
7
3.Jose Fonseca (DEF)
7
4.Fernando Santos (DEF)
7
5.Henry Midgley (DEF)
6
6.Paulo Castro (MID)
8
7.John Niven (MID)
6
8.Maurice Van De Wey (MID)
6
9.Fabrizio Rinaldini (ATT)goal scored
8
10.Miguel Faria (ATT)
6
11.Jose Moreira (ATT)
6
 
12.Carlos Lima (MID)
6
13.Samuel Lima (DEF)
0
14.Quim Loureiro (ATT)
0

1.Dumitru Stinga (GK)
7
2.Jorge Antunes (DEF)
6
3.Matthias Bierhoff (DEF)
7
4.Anton Kohler (DEF)
6
5.Chance Robinson (DEF)
6
6.Samuel Pinheiro (MID)goal scored
9
7.Ricardo Jardim (MID)
7
8.Pedro Moutinho (MID)
6
9.Gaspar Almeida (ATT)
7
10.Frederico Soares (ATT)goal scored
9
11.Miguel Ribeiro (ATT)
6
 
12.Quim Carvalho (DEF)
0
13.Rui Carvalho (MID)
0
14.Tonci Vukoja (ATT)
0