Match Report


S.L. BenficaS.L. Benfica     C.F. Estrela da AmadoraC.F. Estrela da Amadora
Lee FarrowLee Farrow Kieran Rufus Kieran Rufus
Cristiano PostigaC. Postiga78
G
captain1
G
79Michael FaberM. Faber
Quim AndradeQ. Andrade77
D
2
D
81Victor GilV. Gil
Jose Javier MarquitosJ. Marquitos68
D
3
D
74Ronnie ChristieR. Christie
Jon PlattJ. Platt75
D
4
D
77Ellery Van DalenE. Van Dalen
Alexander WidmannA. Widmann81
M
5
D
78Duncan McCoistD. McCoist
Valerio ZauriV. Zauri75
M
6captain
M
86Giordano ColleG. Colle
Ramon GrotR. Grot73
M
7
M
88Neil McGroryN. McGrory
Joe van der HoekJ. van der Hoek69
M
8
M
85Trond Egil KippeT. Kippe
Ruben VieiraR. Vieira73
A
9
A
80Mauricio BlancoM. Blanco
Martin PringleM. Pringle74
A
10
A
79Alfons PiquéA. Piqué
Colin McStayC. McStay77
A
11
A
84Paulo GomesP. Gomes
 
Cristiano CarvalhoC. Carvalho67
D
12
M
82Maurizio PerraM. Perra
Quim NunesQ. Nunes78
M
13
M
80Oscar KooimanO. Kooiman
Brian ArmstrongB. Armstrong70
A
14
A
70Mohammed DugbateyM. Dugbatey

1 Rai
today's match is sponsored by 1Rai
Match Report
Heavy rain falls from above here at Estádio da Luz where S.L. Benfica play host to C.F. Estrela da Amadora. Its a sell-out today with the 21,000 capacity stadium completely full.
The pitch is in great condition.
S.L. Benfica are playing in a 3-4-3 formation while C.F. Estrela da Amadora appear to be shaped for 4-3-3.
Today's match is refereed by Rui Barros.


0.00
S.L. Benfica start the match!
8.22
Jon Platt flicks the ball to his team mate, Quim Andrade. Quim Andrade threads a neat ball through to Martin Pringle. Martin Pringle finds some space and shoots from distance. The ball curls but the keeper is able to reach it. Fabulous stop!
9.04
Jose Javier Marquitos flicks a high pass forward. Joe van der Hoek holds off his marker to collect the ball on his thigh. These players appear to think like one. Joe van der Hoek plays the ball forward to Colin McStay. Colin McStay knocks in a cross ball towards Joe van der Hoek. Joe van der Hoek rises majestically and gets a header on goal but couldn't keep it down. It goes high into the crowd!
10.55
Neil McGrory flicks the ball to his team mate, Trond Egil Kippe. Trond Egil Kippe controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal but it whistles just wide of the post!
12.10
Ellery Van Dalen barges into Valerio Zauri. Ellery Van Dalen is shown the yellow card! Valerio Zauri runs off the knock.
14.05
Ronnie Christie sees Neil McGrory in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Neil McGrory shoots from outside the area. Cristiano Postiga effortlessly gets down and covers it.
15.01
Jon Platt flicks the ball to his team mate, Ramon Grot. Ramon Grot deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Colin McStay. Colin McStay shoots from long range but Michael Faber is on top of it.
16.11
Ronnie Christie makes a simple pass to Trond Egil Kippe. Trond Egil Kippe whips in a cross ball towards Alfons Piqué. Alfons Piqué knocks the ball goalwards with his head. The ball dips under the bar and into the back of the net. Goal!!
20.20
Ellery Van Dalen plays the ball forward to Trond Egil Kippe. Trond Egil Kippe flicks the ball to his team mate, Paulo Gomes. Paulo Gomes knocks in a cross ball towards Alfons Piqué. Alfons Piqué makes a deft header. What a cracker!! Cristiano Postiga had no chance!! Goal for C.F. Estrela da Amadora!
24.21
With vision, Quim Andrade plays the ball forward to Alexander Widmann. Alexander Widmann passes the ball forward to Ramon Grot. Ramon Grot whips in a cross ball towards Martin Pringle. Martin Pringle makes a looping header on goal but it's well over the bar!
28.33
Trond Egil Kippe flicks a high pass forward. Neil McGrory controls it well on his chest. Neil McGrory tries a spectacular long range effort but it slams into the crowd!
32.20
Jose Javier Marquitos flicks a high pass forward. Martin Pringle controls it well on his chest. Martin Pringle advances with the ball. Martin Pringle makes a great pass forward. Colin McStay runs clear and latches on but the linesman indicates offside!
33.36
Colin McStay comes in with a late challenge on Giordano Colle. The referee reaches into his pocket ... it's a yellow card! Giordano Colle runs off the knock.
34.57
Valerio Zauri threads a neat ball through to Alexander Widmann. Alexander Widmann knocks in a cross ball which is cleared by the defence.
36.02
Joe van der Hoek kicks a strong pass forward to Martin Pringle. Martin Pringle shoots from 20 yards but it's a lousy effort!
38.41
Jose Javier Marquitos threads the ball through to Valerio Zauri. Valerio Zauri flicks a high pass forward. Ramon Grot controls it well on his chest. Ramon Grot finds some space and shoots from distance but it flies wide!
39.14
Quim Andrade sees Ruben Vieira in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Ruben Vieira chips the ball to his team mate, Colin McStay. Colin McStay rushes past Ronnie Christie! Colin McStay looks for support before firing off a hurried shot at goal. Magnificent save by Michael Faber!
40.55
Paulo Gomes sees Neil McGrory in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Neil McGrory shoots from 20 yards. It smacks hard against the advertising boards behind the goal. Just wide!
42.59
Quim Andrade catches Alfons Piqué on the ankles. Quim Andrade is warned by the referee! Alfons Piqué hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
42.59
Free kick to C.F. Estrela da Amadora just outside the area...
44.42
Trond Egil Kippe takes a stuttering run up and curls the ball around the wall. It's too high and doesn't trouble the keeper.
45.00
The whistle blows and the first half comes to an end!

Both teams emerge for the second half. S.L. Benfica have changed their lineup with Cristiano Carvalho replacing Jon Platt. C.F. Estrela da Amadora appear unchanged since the first half.

45.00
C.F. Estrela da Amadora start the second half!
48.32
Valerio Zauri comes in with a late challenge on Ellery Van Dalen. Valerio Zauri is warned by the referee! Ellery Van Dalen stretches but gets up unharmed.
51.39
Ruben Vieira comes in with a late challenge on Victor Gil. The referee warns Ruben Vieira to calm down! Victor Gil runs off the knock.
53.32
Valerio Zauri runs straight at the opposition's defence. Valerio Zauri knocks in a cross ball towards Martin Pringle. Martin Pringle rises majestically and gets a header on goal but he balloons it over the crossbar!
54.45
Seeing a gap ahead, Paulo Gomes picks a pass forward to Alfons Piqué. Alfons Piqué shoots from 20 yards but it scrapes just over the bar. Good effort!
55.56
Duncan McCoist threads a neat ball through to Ronnie Christie. Ronnie Christie makes a probing pass to Mauricio Blanco. Mauricio Blanco threads a neat, attacking ball through to Paulo Gomes. Paulo Gomes shoots from just inside the box. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
60.24
S.L. Benfica have made a substitution with Brian Armstrong replacing Martin Pringle .C.F. Estrela da Amadora have made a substitution with Maurizio Perra replacing Trond Egil Kippe .
61.32
Ramon Grot passes the ball forward to Colin McStay. Colin McStay whips in a cross ball towards Valerio Zauri. Valerio Zauri makes a convincing header. Michael Faber gathers the ball up comfortably. Top class keeping!
65.50
Joe van der Hoek kicks a strong pass forward to Alexander Widmann. Alexander Widmann knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Ellery Van Dalen.
66.20
Ronnie Christie hits a low pass to Giordano Colle. Giordano Colle knocks the ball forward to Mauricio Blanco. Mauricio Blanco shoots from long range. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is more than a match for it. Good save!
67.54
Ronnie Christie chips the ball to his team mate, Giordano Colle. Giordano Colle makes a probing pass to Neil McGrory. Neil McGrory knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Jose Javier Marquitos.
71.37
Ramon Grot sees Alexander Widmann in space ahead and quickly passes the ball. Alexander Widmann controls the ball perfectly and tries a long range shot on goal. Michael Faber gets down and covers it.
72.18
Neil McGrory flicks a high ball forward to Maurizio Perra who takes it down. Maurizio Perra shoots from 20 yards but connects badly and the ball goes wide!
73.02
Ellery Van Dalen sees space and advances. Ellery Van Dalen surges forward with the ball. Ellery Van Dalen plays the ball forward to Neil McGrory who has made a great run into the box. Some clumsy but lucky footwork from Neil McGrory provides some space. He shoots at goal. It's a goal!! What a beauty!
77.13
C.F. Estrela da Amadora have made 2 substitutions with Oscar Kooiman replacing Giordano Colle and Mohammed Dugbatey replacing Alfons Piqué .
78.22
Victor Gil chips the ball to his team mate, Maurizio Perra. Maurizio Perra makes a simple pass to Oscar Kooiman. Oscar Kooiman shoots from 25 yards. The ball swerves in the air but the keeper is a match for it. Great save!
81.31
Jose Javier Marquitos clumsily knocks into Ellery Van Dalen. Jose Javier Marquitos is shown the yellow card! Ellery Van Dalen hobbles a bit, but should be okay.
83.32
Valerio Zauri deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Colin McStay. Colin McStay whips in a cross ball towards Brian Armstrong. Brian Armstrong flicks the ball with his head but it's drastically wayward!
84.30
Cristiano Carvalho makes a beautiful solo run. Cristiano Carvalho knocks in a cross ball but it is headed clear by Ronnie Christie.
87.37
Ramon Grot threads a neat ball through to Joe van der Hoek. Joe van der Hoek whips in a cross ball towards Ruben Vieira. Ruben Vieira makes a convincing header. Solid save from Michael Faber. What a great pair of hands!
89.30
Neil McGrory makes a simple pass to Mohammed Dugbatey. Mohammed Dugbatey sees the keeper off his line and tries a speculative shot on goal but it curls horrendously wide!
90.00
Ronnie Christie deftly passes the ball to his team mate, Paulo Gomes. Paulo Gomes knocks the ball to his team mate, Mauricio Blanco. Mauricio Blanco knocks the ball beyond the defensive line but Paulo Gomes is offside!
90.00
The referee blows the final whistle

Match Statistics
 

S.L. Benfica

C.F. Estrela da Amadora
Goals
0
4
Shots on Target
6
7
Shots off Target
6
7
Offsides
1
1
Fouls
5
1
Yellow Cards
2
1
Red Cards
0
0

Possession
47.9%
52.1%
Play Area
27.7%
42.6%
29.8%

Scorers
Alfons Piqué 16, 20
Paulo Gomes 56
Neil McGrory 73

Man of the Match
The man of the match was awarded to Alfons Piqué of C.F. Estrela da Amadora

Match Ratings
1.Cristiano Postiga (GK)
7
2.Quim Andrade (DEF)
6
3.Jose Javier Marquitos (DEF)yellow card
6
4.Jon Platt (DEF)
6
5.Alexander Widmann (MID)
6
6.Valerio Zauri (MID)
7
7.Ramon Grot (MID)
7
8.Joe van der Hoek (MID)
6
9.Ruben Vieira (ATT)
6
10.Martin Pringle (ATT)
6
11.Colin McStay (ATT)yellow card
6
 
12.Cristiano Carvalho (DEF)
6
13.Quim Nunes (MID)
0
14.Brian Armstrong (ATT)
6

1.Michael Faber (GK)
8
2.Victor Gil (DEF)
6
3.Ronnie Christie (DEF)
7
4.Ellery Van Dalen (DEF)yellow card
7
5.Duncan McCoist (DEF)
6
6.Giordano Colle (MID)
6
7.Neil McGrory (MID)goal scored
8
8.Trond Egil Kippe (MID)
7
9.Mauricio Blanco (ATT)
6
10.Alfons Piqué (ATT)goal scoredgoal scored
9
11.Paulo Gomes (ATT)goal scored
9
 
12.Maurizio Perra (MID)
6
13.Oscar Kooiman (MID)
6
14.Mohammed Dugbatey (ATT)
6