Match Report


Sporting BragaSporting Braga     S.L. BenficaS.L. Benfica
Computer Player Computer Player Matt Snape Matt Snape
Jermaine SturridgeJ. Sturridge64
G
1
G
68Hannes LindemannH. Lindemann
Morten BögelundM. Bögelund71
D
2
D
72Wayne FentonW. Fenton
Leonardo GarciaL. Garcia68
D
3
D
63Fernando SantosF. Santos
Quim BarrosQ. Barros64
D
4
D
65Cristiano MoutinhoC. Moutinho
Jaime VarelaJ. Varela64
D
5
D
68Alberto VianaA. Viana
Greg GascoigneG. Gascoigne71
M
6captain
M
93Paulo CastroP. Castro
Ruben AntunesR. Antunes70
M
captain7
M
75Vitor SemedoV. Semedo
Mike HoogstrateM. Hoogstrate73
A
8
M
84Maurice Van De WeyM. Van De Wey
Mario JardimM. Jardim72
A
9
A
68James NaylorJ. Naylor
Cliff van der HoekC. van der Hoek71
A
10
A
72Miguel FariaM. Faria
Moreno LantignottiM. Lantignotti70
A
11
A
74Jose MoreiraJ. Moreira
 
Sebastiao AndradeS. Andrade48
D
12
A
67Fabrizio RinaldiniF. Rinaldini
Ray PaschettaR. Paschetta43
D
13
M
68Vitor RamosV. Ramos
Neil SounessN. Souness42
A
14
A
68Frederico AntunesF. Antunes

LJs
today's match is sponsored by LJs
Match Report
Rain lashes down heavily here at Estádio Municipal de Braga where Sporting Braga play host to S.L. Benfica. A crowd of 19,714 fill this 21,000 capacity stadium.
The pitch is in good condition.
Sporting Braga are playing in a 4-2-4 formation while S.L. Benfica appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Cesar Tavares.


0.00
Sporting Braga start the match!
2.46
Alberto Viana comes in with a late challenge on Mike Hoogstrate. The referee brings Alberto Viana to one side and gives him a warning! Mike Hoogstrate hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
8.52
Alberto Viana knocks the ball to his team mate, Maurice Van De Wey. Maurice Van De Wey plays the ball forward to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. Solid save from Jermaine Sturridge.
21.26
With imagination, Quim Barros plays the ball forward to Ruben Antunes. Ruben Antunes threads the ball through to Cliff van der Hoek. Cliff van der Hoek tries a spectacular long range effort. The ball skims nastily along the wet ground and slips under the keeper's body. Goal!!
27.18
Paulo Castro threads a neat ball through to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
30.37
Jaime Varela flicks a high ball forward to Greg Gascoigne who takes it down. Greg Gascoigne deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Mario Jardim. Mario Jardim makes a simple pass, allowing Ruben Antunes to run into the box. Ruben Antunes shoots from just inside the box. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
36.58
Miguel Faria threads the ball through to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira flicks a high pass forward. James Naylor controls it well on his chest and turns goalwards. James Naylor shoots from just inside the box. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
45.00
Greg Gascoigne flicks a high pass forward. Moreno Lantignotti controls it well on his chest. Moreno Lantignotti shoots from distance. The ball edges just beyond the reach of the keeper, thudding into the back of the net. Beautiful goal!!
45.00
The first half ends with the referee blowing his whistle!

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

45.00
S.L. Benfica kick off and get the second half underway!
47.23
Vitor Semedo hits a low pass to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira makes a pass forward but Miguel Faria is yards offside!
51.52
Maurice Van De Wey runs deep into the other half of the pitch. Maurice Van De Wey shoots from 20 yards but somehow Jermaine Sturridge manages to keep it out.
53.30
Ruben Antunes catches Paulo Castro on the ankles. The referee calls over Ruben Antunes and warns him to calm down! Paulo Castro stretches but gets up unharmed.
54.47
Ruben Antunes knocks the ball forward to Mario Jardim. Mario Jardim shoots from 20 yards but it flies just wide!
59.06
Maurice Van De Wey knocks the ball to his team mate, Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira controls the ball well and immediately threads the ball forward, putting James Naylor through on goal. James Naylor strikes a beautiful left-footed shot at goal his aim is horrendously poor!
63.00
Leonardo Garcia threads a neat ball through to Ruben Antunes. Ruben Antunes kicks a strong pass forward to Mike Hoogstrate. Mike Hoogstrate controls the ball well and immediately threads the ball forward, putting Greg Gascoigne through on goal. Greg Gascoigne cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal. It slams into the side netting. So close!!
69.01
Fernando Santos passes the ball forward to Maurice Van De Wey. Maurice Van De Wey knocks in a cross ball which is cleared easily by the defence.
71.46
With vision, Fernando Santos laces a weighted ball forward to Vitor Semedo. Vitor Semedo flicks a high pass forward. James Naylor collects the pass. James Naylor plays a quick one-two with Miguel Faria and rushes in on goal... James Naylor tries a spectacular strike but Jermaine Sturridge reads it well. Great save!
75.01
Jaime Varela flicks a high pass forward. Leonardo Garcia holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. Leonardo Garcia plays the ball forward to Ruben Antunes. Ruben Antunes flicks the ball to his team mate, Greg Gascoigne. Greg Gascoigne looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal but it curls horrendously wide!
77.04
S.L. Benfica have made a substitution with Fabrizio Rinaldini replacing Miguel Faria .
78.05
James Naylor catches Leonardo Garcia on the ankles. The referee calls over James Naylor and warns him to calm down! Leonardo Garcia stretches but gets up unharmed.
79.15
Cristiano Moutinho knocks the ball forward to Paulo Castro. Paulo Castro chips the ball to his team mate, Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira whips in a cross ball towards James Naylor. James Naylor makes a convincing header. The ball clips the outside of the post and goes out!
85.23
Fernando Santos deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Paulo Castro. With vision, Paulo Castro plays the ball forward to Fabrizio Rinaldini. Fabrizio Rinaldini makes a defence splitting pass to Jose Moreira. Jose Moreira cuts inside the defence and shoots at goal but Jermaine Sturridge is on top of it.
90.00
Fernando Santos takes it forward alone. Fernando Santos controls the ball well before passing to his team mate, Fabrizio Rinaldini. Fabrizio Rinaldini finds some space and shoots from distance but it goes wide for a goal kick.
90.00
The referee whistles full-time!

Match Statistics
 

Sporting Braga

S.L. Benfica
Goals
3
1
Shots on Target
3
5
Shots off Target
3
4
Offsides
0
4
Fouls
1
2
Yellow Cards
0
0
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
34.2%
65.8%
Play Area
31.6%
40.8%
27.6%

Scorers
Cliff van der Hoek 21
Ruben Antunes 30
Moreno Lantignotti 45
James Naylor 37

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Ruben Antunes of Sporting Braga

Match Ratings