Setubal 1 - Benfica 1 - New Year, Same story

In my preview of the game i had mentioned the fact that it wouldn't be an easy game for Benfica. Setubal is a decent, well organized team, their quick counter with numbers, and the way they keep their position lines compact is the reason why they have only lost one game this season and are in a decent table position. Even though Setubal's tying goal, in the dying minutes of the game, results from a typical attacking incursion, Benfica has no one to blame but themselves for the tie. A tie that, mind you, tastes more like a defeat than anything else. Between the tactical stubbornness of Camacho and the embarrassing scene between Luisao and Katsouranis, tonight's result does come as too much of a surprise.


On to the game:

Camacho started the following 11:
Quim in goal; the back four were Luis Felipe, Luisao, David Luiz and Nelson on the right; Petit and Katsouranis in front of the defense; Rodriguez, Rui Costa and Maxi supporting the lone forward, Cardozo.

Leo wasn't able to overcome his cold, and Luis Felipe got the nod, pushing Nelson to the left. Camacho's stubbornness is getting to me little by little. His insistence in the 4-2-3-1 with the wrong personnel is turning out to be a tell tale sign of his tactical weaknesses. What is it that he sees that no one else can see? Maxi is not a right mid, he is clearly a much better right back, as he lacks speed and first step explosiveness to penetrate the attacking third, one thing is true, Maxi is very strong on the ball and his work rate is excellent, but going forward he has nothing. Why not bet on a faster more skilled player for the right? Assis? DiMaria? or even Adu?
The other thing i'd like to point out is that Benfica is underusing Cardozo. For God's sakes, why hasn't Camacho seen that he plays so much better when he has someone next to him? There is no doubt in my mind that he is worth 9mm, but he is not to be used like that, why not build the team around him? I'm just annoyed, frustrated and irritated with the lack of vision on Camacho's side, seriously, i know that the team was not set up by him, and that he is limited to who he has to work with, but still.

Benfica dominated the first half with Setubal playing a block zone in front of the ball hoping to go on a counter, but the first half was clearly Benfica's half, dominating every aspect of the game, with the defensive midfield recuperating a lot of balls and launching the team into the attack. Despite controlling most of the game, Benfica could not penetrate the Setubal defense. At the 15 minute mark, Rodriguez had the clearest Benfica opportunity of the half, with one of his, already typical, headers that Setubal's keeper responded to with one of his best saves. The Uruguayan international would have to leave the field at the 30minute mark in what apparently looked like a hamstring injury. Camacho put in DiMaria in his place and Benfica continued their domination. Setubal did show some signs before the half with a couple of opportunities but nothing that would justify a change on their side of the scoreboard, same can't be said about Benfica. Had Benfica been up on the scoreboard, it wouldn't have been a surprise to many . Rodriguez 's injury forced Camacho to burn an early substitution, and complicated things for Benfica, which were now without one of their more influential players.
The second half was totally different from the first, as the roles were reversed, Setubal came out strong and took the initiative of the game, threatening Quim's goal 3 minutes into the half, Benfica seemed unimaginative, out of ideas to penetrate Setubal's defense, Rui Costa was forced to drop back into the midfield to "drive" Benfica's game, while Katsouranis was clearly in a more advanced position, Di Maria's interventions were intermittent and at times he seemed absent from the game.
At the around the 65 minute mark, Luisao and Katsouranis got involved in a shoving match and had to be separated by team mates before it got any uglier. The incident was preceded by a Luisao surgical foul in the midfield that resulted in both players exchanging words. It's unclear who started, or, who said what to who, but the fact is that 2 Benfica professionals should never have that type of behavior on the field especially during a game. I know that during a game your adrenaline is running rampant, and sometimes frustration leads you to lose your head, but there must be cut off point. Camacho, in his best move of the night, substituted both players at the same time, Luisao went straight to the locker room, while Katsouranis joined his team mates on the bench. Mantorras and Edcarlos came in the game. Mantorras joined Cardozo up front, dropping Rui Costa into center mid, while Edcarlos took Luisao's place. One of the substitutions was certainly not the move that Camacho had in mind, but the other one was something that gave the fans hope - 2 forwards. It wasn't too long (3mins) before the 2 forwards would bear its fruits, Mantorras finished off a Cardozo mis-settle and put Benfica ahead in the 71st minute. Benfica was able to go up on a scoreboard during a period in which Setubal was more dangerous. With 19 minutes left in the game, Benfica needed to control the game in order to avoid Setubal's attacking pressure, but with both Petit and Rui Costa at their physical threshold, Benfica had a hard time moving the ball around and eating up the clock, retreating into their midfield instead, and allowing Setubal to put all their effort into reaching the equalizer, which they would eventually get in the 88th minute.

Individual appreciation (1-10)

Quim - 6
Luis Felipe - 5
Luisao - 5 (for the incident)
David Luiz - 8
Nelson - 7
Petit - 6
Katsouranis - 5 (for the incident)
Rodriguez - 6
Maxi - 7 ( for his work rate)
Rui Costa - 8
Cardozo - 7

DiMAria -6 ( for his houdinis)
Edcarlos - 5 (
Mantorras - 7

With a more than likely Porto win tomorrow, Benfica seriously compromised their title chances as the gap will be 9 points.
On a last note, I have to give praise to Camacho for stepping up and showing his authority in the incident between Luisao and Katsouranis. I hope the club deals with these players in an exemplary way as scenes like that are not tolerable. As a Benfica fan, I hope both players publicly apologize to the fans for the scene they caused.
Hopefully there will be some news as far as reinforcements go, as Benfica needs a good showing in the Uefa.