Benfica 1 - Maritimo 1 - Keeping Pace

It wasn't the start that we all expected, but not much can be said about the team's performance and desire to win except - unlucky. It's not the first time, nor will it be the last time that a team comes into Estadio da Luz and plays a game similar to a the 2 leg format in European competition. It's been a trademark of the Portuguese league, the little teams like to park the proverbial bus in front of their goal and hope they can come out with something positive.


JJ's first 11 were the same 11 i had projected in my preview: Quim in goal. Amorim, Luisao,Sidnei and David Luiz, from right to left. Javi Garcia, DiMaria, Martins and Martins in the midfield, while up front it was Saviola and Cardozo.

Benfica took the field with an unique opportunity, both porto and Sporting had tied their games, and Benfica could start the season by gaining two points on both of them.
With that in mind, Benfica started the game strong imposing their game but from the beginning it was easy to see how Maritimo was set up, all of their men behind the ball and a clear two lines of defense to cut the down the passing lanes to Benfica's game. While in the pre-season it looked so easy to penetrate the final third, the Maritimo men had done their homework, and there were very little spaces to get behind the defender's backs, off course the fact that Amorim and David Luiz aren't necessarily the players to add depth to Benfica's offensive game didn't help either. Our lack of luck knocked early, as JJ had to burn one of his substitutions following an injury by Carlos Martins. Fabio Coentrao replaced him.

Benfica had their first chance at the 19 minute mark, when Aimar hit the crossbar off a free kick, and that was all that Benfica could muster. Maritimo on the other hand, looked to push back pressure from their defense by playing long balls to the wings and let their wingers try to beat Benfica. It was during one of those few incursions that Maritimo benefited from a David Luiz handball in the box, a good call by the referee. Maritimo saw themselves up on the scoreboard without doing much. Benfica continued their domination but could only just come close. This time by Coentrao, with a long shot that came close to the target. No other chances for Benfica for the half, but the players went into the locker room knowing that they dominated their opponent and that the goal would come in the second half.

The second half brought out the same strong and dominating Benfica, with one difference - speed. The plays were now being executed a lot faster and little by little Benfica seemed to be able to get behind the defense. Coentrao had the goal in his sights, but Maritimo's keeper responded with a nice save. 7 minutes later, at the 58 minute mark, Sidnei blasted a close range shot, but once again the keeper answered, insisting on that play, it was DiMaria's turn to have his shot blocked by a Maritimo defender.
JJ decided to turn the heat up and replace Sidnei with Weldon, after all Benfica's defense were mere spectators to the attacking barrage Benfica was creating.
In the 75th minute Saviola was brought down in the box, and Benfica seemed to have finally found a way, but even then, Cardozo's shot was met by another save. After the saved penalty i got the feeling that it wasn't going to be our night, but Weldon met a Coentrao cross to finally put the ball past Pecanha. 86min and Benfica seemed to be running out of time to turn things around. Even with Nuno Gomes on the field, who had come in for Saviola 1 minute before Benfica's goal, Benfica kept on finding either a pair of legs or the keepers hands and could not breakthrough, a penalty for Benfica went uncalled as a Maritimo man slid and blocked the ball with his arm as he was going down.

An "authentic massacre" is how JJ described Benfica's second half, I have to agree with him. While the win could have been a better result, the way the team played and the effort they put in left me with a good feeling about this game, off course the fact that our most direct rivals also tied, adds to my acceptance of this result.
Benfica needs to be prepared to face these situations, where a team will lock themselves up behind the ball and that's how they play.
While last year, there were a lot of teams coming to Estadio da Luz with the desire and audaucity to win, playing an open style, i doubt that there will be many teams coming to play in that same manner.
It's evident that this year every team will try to shut down Benfica's passing game, JJ will have to find a solution, for right now the solution has to do with speed, and if Benfica wants to beat these little teams, they will have to play quick supported futebol and put away some of the chances they create.




#Photo Getty Images