Match Report


S.L. BenficaS.L. Benfica     Sp. EspinhoSp. Espinho
Gary ParsonsGary Parsons Computer Player Computer Player
Vicente CordobaV. Cordoba84
G
1
G
76Valentino PinziV. Pinzi
Igor OnopkoI. Onopko75
D
2
D
75Sebastiao FonsecaS. Fonseca
Roger VonkR. Vonk76
D
3
D
74Sebastiao ReisS. Reis
Lars SeifertL. Seifert73
D
4
D
64Joao SousaJ. Sousa
Samuel RomeroS. Romero79
D
5
M
76Rafael VianaR. Viana
Gianni RimondiniG. Rimondini80
M
6captain
M
68Noah MatthäusN. Matthäus
Sho OkamotoS. Okamoto83
M
7
M
66Pedro MoreiraP. Moreira
Maarten ClaessensM. Claessens77
M
8
M
65Mitchell CairoM. Cairo
Bunji TakahashiB. Takahashi85
A
captain9
A
78Patricio PerronP. Perron
Kyo NakataK. Nakata75
A
10
A
70Vitor AndradeV. Andrade
Regillio AlberdaR. Alberda80
A
11
A
65Silvio VelosoS. Veloso
 
Edgar FernandesE. Fernandes71
A
12
G
66Albert WiekensA. Wiekens
Jan-Willem KrijgsmanJ. Krijgsman75
M
13
M
64Patrick BeresfordP. Beresford
Ricardo VarelaR. Varela68
D
14
D
63Daniel BarbosaD. Barbosa

Red Cross
today's match is sponsored by Red Cross
Match Report
It is a thoroughly wet and miserable day here at Estádio da Luz where S.L. Benfica play host to Sp. Espinho. A crowd of 20,626 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in great condition.
S.L. Benfica are playing in a 4-3-3 formation while Sp. Espinho appear to be shaped for 3-4-3.
Today's match is refereed by Pedro Vidigal.


0.00
The first half starts with S.L. Benfica kicking off!
6.22
Gianni Rimondini flicks a high pass forward. Bunji Takahashi easily holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Bunji Takahashi rushes past Sebastiao Reis! Bunji Takahashi comes through the middle and smashes a shot from 11 yards out. The ball takes a deflection leaving Valentino Pinzi with no chance!! Goal for S.L. Benfica!
10.41
Mitchell Cairo hits a low pass to Vitor Andrade. Vitor Andrade shoots from outside the area. It's there!! Vicente Cordoba has to pick the ball from the back of the net!
14.12
Joao Sousa flicks a high pass forward. Noah Matthäus collects the pass. Noah Matthäus controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Patricio Perron. Patricio Perron tries a spectacular long range effort. Magnificent save by Vicente Cordoba!
16.30
Rafael Viana flicks a high pass forward. Patricio Perron collects the pass. Patricio Perron whips in a cross ball towards Vitor Andrade. Vitor Andrade makes a convincing header. The keeper is more than a match for it. Nice save!
20.12
Igor Onopko chips the ball to his team mate, Sho Okamoto. Sho Okamoto deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Bunji Takahashi. Bunji Takahashi knocks in a cross ball but it is too close to Valentino Pinzi who gathers it comfortably.
22.29
Showing composure, Roger Vonk laces a weighted ball forward to Maarten Claessens. Seeing a gap ahead, Maarten Claessens plays the ball forward to Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata edges inside the box! Kyo Nakata side-steps and rifles a shot at goal. The ball clips the inside of the post and flies into the back of the net!! Goal for S.L. Benfica!
26.20
Samuel Romero flicks a high pass forward. Maarten Claessens holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Maarten Claessens makes a probing pass to Regillio Alberda. Regillio Alberda knocks in a cross ball towards Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata whips the ball goalwards with his head. The ball skims just under the bar, beyond the keeper's outstretched hand. Goal!!
30.28
Sho Okamoto threads a neat ball through to Regillio Alberda. Regillio Alberda deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Kyo Nakata but the linesman indicates offside!
34.11
Sho Okamoto makes a probing pass to Regillio Alberda. Regillio Alberda finds some space and shoots from distance but is denied by Valentino Pinzi. Excellent save.
36.43
Gianni Rimondini flicks a high pass forward. Kyo Nakata collects the pass. Kyo Nakata tries a spectacular long range effort but it is tipped over by Valentino Pinzi.
37.02
Maarten Claessens takes the corner, driving a low ball out to the edge of the box. Kyo Nakata takes a shot at goal. The ball rattles the crossbar bouncing back into play. It's dealt with comprehensively by the defence.
39.45
Noah Matthäus threads the ball through to Vitor Andrade. Vitor Andrade controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but somehow Vicente Cordoba manages to keep it out.
42.16
Plenty of goal mouth action is making this a great game to watch.
45.00
Maarten Claessens flicks a high pass forward. Regillio Alberda holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Regillio Alberda rushes past Sebastiao Fonseca! Regillio Alberda strikes a beautiful right-footed shot at goal. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
45.00
The referee whistles the end of the first half!

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

45.00
Sp. Espinho start the second half!
48.09
Noah Matthäus controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Silvio Veloso. Silvio Veloso knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Lars Seifert.
49.01
With a delightful solo run, Gianni Rimondini stretches the opposition's defence. Gianni Rimondini shoots from long range but it's well over the bar!
51.20
Gianni Rimondini deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Regillio Alberda. Regillio Alberda knocks in a cross ball towards Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata heads the ball goalwards. Valentino Pinzi manages to gather it easily.
55.43
Sho Okamoto hacks Noah Matthäus from behind! The referee calls over Sho Okamoto and shows him a yellow card! Noah Matthäus hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
60.36
S.L. Benfica have made 3 substitutions with Edgar Fernandes replacing Regillio Alberda, Jan-Willem Krijgsman replacing Maarten Claessens and Ricardo Varela replacing Lars Seifert .
65.31
Sho Okamoto makes a probing pass to Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Edgar Fernandes but the linesman indicates offside!
69.12
Sho Okamoto threads a neat ball through to Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata cuts inside the box! Kyo Nakata tries a spectacular strike. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!! The crowd cheers as he celebrates his hattrick!
72.52
Ricardo Varela threads a neat ball through to Jan-Willem Krijgsman. Jan-Willem Krijgsman makes a beautiful pass to the feet of Edgar Fernandes. Edgar Fernandes lofts in a cross ball towards Kyo Nakata. Kyo Nakata whips the ball goalwards with his head. The ball takes a deflection leaving Valentino Pinzi with no chance!! Goal for S.L. Benfica!
77.35
Joao Sousa clumsily knocks into Bunji Takahashi. Joao Sousa is warned by the referee! Bunji Takahashi stretches but gets up unharmed.
78.39
Sho Okamoto plays the ball forward to Edgar Fernandes. Edgar Fernandes threads the ball through to Kyo Nakata but he's offside!
79.24
Gianni Rimondini flicks a high pass forward. Bunji Takahashi controls it well on his chest. Bunji Takahashi plays a one-two with Edgar Fernandes and advances towards the goal... Some world-class footwork from Bunji Takahashi provides some space. He scuffs the ball at goal. Magnificent block by Sebastiao Reis!
83.58
Gianni Rimondini flicks a high pass forward to Kyo Nakata who brings the ball under control. Kyo Nakata plays a quick one-two with Bunji Takahashi and rushes in on goal... Kyo Nakata cuts inside onto his preferred right foot and rushes a shot at goal but it curls horrendously wide!
85.39
Jan-Willem Krijgsman flicks a high pass forward. Edgar Fernandes collects the pass. Edgar Fernandes skips past Sebastiao Reis! Edgar Fernandes shows great control and tries a shot on goal. It curls slightly but Valentino Pinzi manages to gather it.
89.58
Seeing a gap ahead, Gianni Rimondini plays the ball forward to Bunji Takahashi. Bunji Takahashi sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Great keeping!
90.00
The whistle blows full-time!

Match Statistics
 

S.L. Benfica

Sp. Espinho
Goals
5
1
Shots on Target
11
4
Shots off Target
4
0
Offsides
3
0
Fouls
1
1
Yellow Cards
1
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
74.7%
25.3%
Play Area
20.3%
48.1%
31.6%

Scorers
Bunji Takahashi 6
Kyo Nakata 22, 26, 69, 73
Vitor Andrade 10

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

Match Ratings
1.Vicente Cordoba (GK)
6
2.Igor Onopko (DEF)
6
3.Roger Vonk (DEF)
6
4.Lars Seifert (DEF)
6
5.Samuel Romero (DEF)
6
6.Gianni Rimondini (MID)
7
7.Sho Okamoto (MID)yellow card
6
8.Maarten Claessens (MID)
6
9.Bunji Takahashi (ATT)goal scored
7
10.Kyo Nakata (ATT)goal scoredgoal scoredgoal scoredgoal scored
9
11.Regillio Alberda (ATT)
7
 
12.Edgar Fernandes (ATT)
6
13.Jan-Willem Krijgsman (MID)
6
14.Ricardo Varela (DEF)
6

1.Valentino Pinzi (GK)
7
2.Sebastiao Fonseca (DEF)
6
3.Sebastiao Reis (DEF)
6
4.Joao Sousa (DEF)
6
5.Rafael Viana (MID)
6
6.Noah Matthäus (MID)
6
7.Pedro Moreira (MID)
6
8.Mitchell Cairo (MID)
6
9.Patricio Perron (ATT)
6
10.Vitor Andrade (ATT)goal scored
7
11.Silvio Veloso (ATT)
6
 
12.Albert Wiekens (GK)
0
13.Patrick Beresford (MID)
0
14.Daniel Barbosa (DEF)
0