Porto beat Benfica 1-0 in a fiery Taça de Portugal quarter-final clash at Estádio do Dragão.
It was an action packed start with plenty of aggression on display, Porto applying pressure and making it count in the 15th minute. Gabri Veiga’s corner was met by Jan Bednarek who outmuscled Leandro Barreiro and headed the ball past Anatoliy Trubin.
Gabri Veiga and Victor Froholdt tested Trubin in quick succession but Benfica fought back. Amar Dedic went close and Sidny Cabral, who was making his first start for José Mourinho’s side, was closed down by Pepê before he could get a shot away.
Richard Ríos picked up an arm injury and was carried off the pitch, the midfielderreplaced by Georgiy Sudakov. Tempers flared up in added time which saw Dedic, Vangelis Pavlidis and Samu all booked following a minor fracas.
Leandro Barreiro forced a save from Diogo Costa on the stroke of half-time, Dedic getting another chance that he blazed over the bar.
The second half began with Benfica continuing where they left off, Pavlidis firing straight at Costa before Tomás Araújo went close. A bizarre situation then saw Fredrik Aursnes miss an open net from distance, Costa avoiding an embarrassing situation after abandoning his goal to check on Jakub Kiwior.
The substitutions started to flow with Francesco Farioli introducing Rodrigo Mora and William Gomes for Veiga and Borja Sainz. Araújo gave Costa some catching practice before Mourinho brought on Andreas Schjelderup for Gianluca Prestianni.
Jan Bednarek, who had picked up a knock early in the second half, made way for Alan Varela with Alberto Costa replacing Martim Fernandes. Pablo Rosario moved to central defence next to Thiago Silva who was making his first appearance after signing as a free agent.
Franjo Ivanovic replaced Cabral before Benfica missed a golden opportunity to equalise in the 90th minute. Schjelderup’s dangerous cross picked out Pavlidis in point blank range, but the striker couldn’t sort his feet out and the chance went begging.
Dragons on fire, Benfica fading
Francesco Farioli’s side made it eight straight wins to continue their charge towards a domestic double. The Italian manager has a hot hand and is playing it well, aided by few injuries and a near perfect recruitment strategy at Estádio do Dragão.
Despite missing the suspended Nicolás Otamendi who is Benfica’s only natural leader, they created chances and largely held Samu in check. Barreiro went close before the break and Pavlidis will be wondering how he failed to equalise late on.
Regardless, José Mourinho’s side have exited two Cup competitions in the space of a week and it could be a long wait until the summer holidays. The Eagles remain unbeaten in the Primeira Liga but are ten points behind Porto at the halfway stage, and they have little chance of competing in the Champions League.
Porto 1-0 Benfica highlights