Match Report


S.L. BenficaS.L. Benfica     Rio AveRio Ave
Gary ParsonsGary Parsons Computer Player Computer Player
Samuel MonteiroS. Monteiro69
G
1captain
G
60Quim QuaresmaQ. Quaresma
Stijn VeldemanS. Veldeman80
D
2
D
70Samuel AlvesS. Alves
Roger VonkR. Vonk75
D
3
D
63Matt FormonM. Formon
Mark BrescianoM. Bresciano75
D
4
D
55Bruno CarvalhoB. Carvalho
Samuel RomeroS. Romero78
D
5
M
59Billy BrookingB. Brooking
Gianni RimondiniG. Rimondini80
M
6
M
57Cristiano FariaC. Faria
Sho OkamotoS. Okamoto82
M
7
M
57Miguel MonteiroM. Monteiro
Maarten ClaessensM. Claessens77
M
8
M
55Cristiano BentoC. Bento
Bunji TakahashiB. Takahashi85
A
captain9
A
74Duarte BarrosD. Barros
Kyo NakataK. Nakata74
A
10
A
64Nuno SantosN. Santos
Yutaka OnoY. Ono83
A
11
A
56Artur NunesA. Nunes
 
Regillio AlberdaR. Alberda79
A
12
A
53Vitor MartinsV. Martins
Paul MetzgerP. Metzger30
M
13
D
52Florian RiemannF. Riemann
Damien GascoigneD. Gascoigne27
A
14
D
51Florian TouréF. Touré

Royal
today's match is sponsored by Royal
Match Report
There is a slight drizzle in the air here at Estádio da Luz where S.L. Benfica play host to Rio Ave. A crowd of 19,557 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
S.L. Benfica are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Rio Ave appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by JosŽ Alexio Nuno Gomes.


0.00
S.L. Benfica kick off!
2.47
Cristiano Bento comes in with a late challenge on Roger Vonk. The referee brings Cristiano Bento to one side and gives him a warning! Roger Vonk carries on, but is struggling a bit.
8.07
Cristiano Faria flicks a high pass forward. Nuno Santos collects the pass. Nuno Santos knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
9.45
Duarte Barros catches Roger Vonk on the ankles. Duarte Barros is warned by the referee! Roger Vonk stretches but gets up unharmed.
18.10
Billy Brooking flicks a high pass forward. Duarte Barros holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Duarte Barros controls the ball well and immediately threads the ball forward, putting Nuno Santos through on goal. Nuno Santos makes some space for himself and shoots at goal. The ball strikes Mark Bresciano's outstretched foot and is deflected wide.
19.20
Corner kick to Rio Ave. Billy Brooking plays it out to the edge of the box. Sho Okamoto gets to the ball and clears it up field.
21.54
Mark Bresciano knocks the ball to his team mate, Sho Okamoto. Sho Okamoto flicks a high pass forward. Yutaka Ono holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Yutaka Ono shoots from distance but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
22.21
Maarten Claessens knocks the ball forward to Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but Quim Quaresma is on top of it.
26.33
Miguel Monteiro knocks the ball forward to Artur Nunes. Artur Nunes knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
27.21
Maarten Claessens receives the ball from a throw-in from Sho Okamoto. Maarten Claessens passes the ball forward to Bunji Takahashi. Bunji Takahashi whips in a cross ball towards Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata jumps high and flicks the ball with his head which easily beats the keeper. Goal!!
32.51
Samuel Romero picks a pass forward to Gianni Rimondini. Gianni Rimondini sees Kyo Nakata in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Kyo Nakata runs straight at the defence! Kyo Nakata tries a spectacular strike. The ball skims nastily along the ground and slips under the keeper's body. Goal!!
40.35
With imagination, Stijn Veldeman laces a through ball forward to Gianni Rimondini. Gianni Rimondini makes a simple pass to Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata finds some space and shoots from distance but it is tipped over by Quim Quaresma.
41.47
Gianni Rimondini takes a quick corner, playing it short to Yutaka Ono. Yutaka Ono knocks the ball into the box. Kyo Nakata takes a shot at goal. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
42.45
Mark Bresciano threads a neat ball through to Sho Okamoto. Sho Okamoto threads a neat ball through to Yutaka Ono. Yutaka Ono knocks the ball forward, putting Bunji Takahashi through on goal. Bunji Takahashi looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. It's there!! Quim Quaresma has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
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 Rio Ave kick off!
48.23
Sho Okamoto brings the ball forward. Sho Okamoto sees Kyo Nakata just inside the box and quickly passes the ball. Some silky footwork from Kyo Nakata provides him some room. He curls a shot at goal. The ball swerves viciously but the keeper is more than a match for it. Superb keeping!
49.10
Samuel Alves makes a simple pass to Miguel Monteiro. Miguel Monteiro makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Nuno Santos. Nuno Santos shoots from outside the area but it's a lousy effort!
53.58
Yutaka Ono hacks Samuel Alves from behind! The referee calls over Yutaka Ono and shows him a yellow card! Samuel Alves runs off the knock.
54.37
Cristiano Faria controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Duarte Barros. Duarte Barros knocks in a poor cross ball which is cleared easily by Mark Bresciano.
55.38
Without breaking stride, Bruno Carvalho plays the ball forward to Billy Brooking. Billy Brooking changes direction and makes an attacking run forward. Billy Brooking knocks in a cross ball towards Artur Nunes. Mark Bresciano clumsily knocks into Artur Nunes. Penalty not given!!
57.56
Cristiano Faria chips the ball to his team mate, Nuno Santos. Nuno Santos lofts in a cross ball towards Artur Nunes. Artur Nunes rises majestically and gets a header on goal but it is shockingly off target!
60.53
Cristiano Faria advances with the ball. Cristiano Faria knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Mark Bresciano.
61.20
Maarten Claessens decides to run forward with the ball. Maarten Claessens makes a probing pass between the defence to Bunji Takahashi. Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Bunji Takahashi provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. Quim Quaresma is helpless! The ball slams into the back of the net - goal!!
66.49
Maarten Claessens kicks a strong pass forward to Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata plays a scrappy one-two with Yutaka Ono and advances towards the goal... Some good footwork from Kyo Nakata provides some space. He shoots at goal. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Great save!
67.17
Miguel Monteiro clumsily knocks into Sho Okamoto. The referee calls over Miguel Monteiro and shows him a yellow card! Sho Okamoto runs off the knock.
71.50
Sho Okamoto passes the ball forward to Bunji Takahashi. Bunji Takahashi knocks in a cross ball towards Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata is perfectly placed and heads the ball at goal. The ball edges just beyond the reach of the keeper, thudding into the back of the net. Goal!! That's his third!
79.48
Billy Brooking threads a neat ball through to Artur Nunes. Artur Nunes controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal which easily beats the keeper. Goal!!
84.10
Sho Okamoto deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Bunji Takahashi. Bunji Takahashi shoots from outside the area. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
90.00
Miguel Monteiro flicks a high pass forward. Artur Nunes controls it well on his chest. Artur Nunes whips in a cross ball towards Duarte Barros. Duarte Barros outjumps his marker and heads the ball goalward. Samuel Monteiro gathers the ball up comfortably. Great save!
90.00
The referee blows for full-time

Match Statistics
 

S.L. Benfica

Rio Ave
Goals
5
1
Shots on Target
9
3
Shots off Target
3
2
Offsides
0
1
Fouls
1
3
Yellow Cards
1
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
58.2%
41.8%
Play Area
26.6%
43%
30.4%

Scorers
Kyo Nakata 27, 33, 71
Bunji Takahashi 42, 61
Artur Nunes 79

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Kyo Nakata of S.L. Benfica

Match Ratings
1.Samuel Monteiro (GK)
6
2.Stijn Veldeman (DEF)
6
3.Roger Vonk (DEF)
6
4.Mark Bresciano (DEF)
6
5.Samuel Romero (DEF)
6
6.Gianni Rimondini (MID)
6
7.Sho Okamoto (MID)
7
8.Maarten Claessens (MID)
7
9.Bunji Takahashi (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
10.Kyo Nakata (ATT)goal scoredgoal scoredgoal scored
9
11.Yutaka Ono (ATT)yellow card
6
 
12.Regillio Alberda (ATT)
0
13.Paul Metzger (MID)
0
14.Damien Gascoigne (ATT)
0

1.Quim Quaresma (GK)
6
2.Samuel Alves (DEF)
6
3.Matt Formon (DEF)
6
4.Bruno Carvalho (DEF)
6
5.Billy Brooking (MID)
6
6.Cristiano Faria (MID)
6
7.Miguel Monteiro (MID)yellow card
6
8.Cristiano Bento (MID)
6
9.Duarte Barros (ATT)
6
10.Nuno Santos (ATT)
6
11.Artur Nunes (ATT)goal scored
7
 
12.Vitor Martins (ATT)
0
13.Florian Riemann (DEF)
0
14.Florian Touré (DEF)
0