Sporting 5 - Benfica 3 - Self Destruction...Complete

#Photo Credit - Francisco Leong - AFP/Getty
BOOM!!!! And just like that, Benfica's season is over. There's no sense in thinking that we can still reach second place, let's be realistic.
In essence, all of this is a just reward for this year's Benfica. Blowing a 2-0 lead in 45 minutes is unacceptable, not to mention giving up 5, yes 5, goals in the second half, 4 of them coming in the space of 18 minutes.
There's no hope, there's no optimism left. The cold, hard reality is exactly where you can find Benfica today, out of European competitions, out of Domestic competitions, and in a disgraceful fourth place.


Playing for a place in the final of the only competition that could still bring a bright spot into this dismal season, Benfica fans hoped that Benfica could get past their eternal rivals this Wednesday to secure a final meeting with league champions Porto who had qualified for the final on Tuesday.
With the advantage of having 48 more hours of rest than Sporting, Benfica headed into this semifinal clash with some optimism, despite playing away. \
10,000 strong filled up the north side stands in hope of seeing Benfica advance with a win over Sporting.

For this game Chalana started the following 11:

Quim in goal. Nelson, Luisao, Katsouranis, Leo made up the back four, while Petit, Rui Costa, Maxi and Rodriguez, made up the intermediary sector. Up Front, it was DiMaria supporting Nuno Gomes.
Chalana opted out to leave Cardozo on the bench, and repeat the defensive back four who had allowed 3 goals at home against Academica.

Benfica started well, and after withstanding Sporting's initial pressure, were able to control the game and go up on the scoreboard at the 19th minute mark, when Dimaria combined well with Rui Costa who would put Benfica up on the scoreboard. It was Benfica's best period, which rewarded them with the lead.
Sporting looked flat and Benfica clearly played the best futebol of the half, creating several chance. In the 31st minute Benfica would go up again on the scoreboard, a goal that mirrored Benfica's dominance of the first half.
The game seemed controlled by Benfica and the final was a mere 45 minutes away.

Having dominated Sporting for the first 45 minutes, Benfica went into the locker room in a comfortable position. Up 2 goals and with the momentum on their side, the final seemed the obvious end result to this game.

The second half, however, was a different game altogether, Sporting came out strong, and determined to leave everything on the field, Benfica on the other hand, was content to let Sporting play by giving them as much time as they liked and lowering their pressuring line. DiMaria who had been the most active of the Benfica players in the first half, was subbed out for Sepsi, in an effort to refresh the left side. Chalana put Sepsi in the game in order to give more of a defensive posture to the left side of Benfica. Up 2 nothing and with Sporting in clear ascendant, it seemed like the obvious choice for Chalana, although Dimaria had been the one player that seemed to bring danger to the Sporting defense. Rodriguez, who had given consistency to the left side, was now the player with more offensive freedom.
Sporting's will and dominance of the second half, would eventually bear fruit, when they cut the lead down to 1 goal in the 68th minute. Sporting was clearly the more dominant team of the half, and with their fans behind them, they believed they could turn around the result. Feeding on their momentum, Sporting would tie the game in the 76th minute, and believed that they could win the game with every minute that went by. On the other hand, Benfica continued to allow Sporting to play their game, conceding spaces and playing a soft type of marking. Losing the midfield, with both Petit and Rui Costa out of gas, Chalana could not recognize that he needed to win back the midfield as a way to get back in the game. Binya warmed up, and continued to warm up, as Chalana saw Sporting complete the 3 goal turn around at the 79th minute. Benfica would get back in the game when Rodriguez tied the game at 3 with a blast from mid range. With the game tied at 3 and with Benfica being dominated by Sporting, it would have made more sense if Chalana had brought in Binya to refresh the midfield and even up the game. But Chalana would see Sporting go up 4-3 before he could make his sub choice, which changed from a defensive one to an all out approach, Chalana brought in Cardozo for Petit at the 85th minute mark. With Benfica clearly balanced towards the attack, Sporting would put the nail in the coffin in the added time period, to set the score at 5-3.

If you had the pleasure of watching the game, you have to think of it as a good game, as both teams had their chances. Benfica was the dominating team in the first half, while Sporting took a more aggressive stance in the second half, and proved to be the team that wanted it more.
"Incredible" is the word I can use to describe Benfica's inability to control the game, and protect their lead.
After past failures, this one fits right in with this season's track record.

I have to question Chalana's choices and lack of a good read on the game. While Sepsi's substitution was the wrong one, Cardozo's is an act of desperation on his part.
With Sporting in clear ascendant and dominance in the second half, Chalana could have very well have made adjustments to change the course of events, by bringing in Binya into the midfield.

Next up, is a difficult game at Porto, who, despite having wrapped up the title, will not allow Benfica to come into their building and win. You can be certain of that. The Dragao has already sold out, and most of the Porto fans, will be looking for their team to humiliate Benfica.
Benfica will need to win to keep their second place chances alive, if they are to take advantage of a Sporting or Guimaraes sli