League

Estadio Almancil
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Alfredo Fonseca started the match with the kick off. Francisco Sarmento's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Armindo Fraga read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 9th minute of play. Armindo Fraga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Francisco Sarmento, who was totally free with the ball in the 10th minute. Francisco Peseiro fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Manuel Leiria having to interfere. The Mesquita fans' excitement grew in the 17th match minute when Mesquita's Alfredo Fonseca looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. In the 26th minute of the match Reginaldo Pires shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Manuel Leiria showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Francisco Peseiro in the 29th minute of play forced Benfica's goalkeeper Manuel Leiria to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Alfredo Fonseca in the 31st minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Manuel Leiria prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Filipe Mendes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 38 minutes into the game, Álvaro Teixeira was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mesquita's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Benfica the free kick. In the 38th minute, Álvaro Teixeira hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Manuel Leiria showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Francisco Peseiro in the 40th minute of the match. After 41 minutes, Igor Bernardes mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Mesquita and the Benfica players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 41st minute, Igor Bernardes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Filipe Mendes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 47th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Armindo Fraga having to interfere.

Normando Palha kicked well hit freekick during the 56th minute of the match. After some careless play in the Mesquita defense, Filipe Mendes kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Armindo Fraga. The Mesquita fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Armindo Fraga should have stopped the shot. Mesquita's Armindo Fraga played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Francisco Sarmento in the 63rd minute of play. Alfredo Fonseca fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 67th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Manuel Leiria having to interfere. Manuel Leiria didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 70th minute, which inside left pole to 1-2. Igor Bernardes was shown his second yellow card after 73 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. In the 73rd match minute, Mesquita was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Igor Bernardes to maneuver through the defense. After recieving a nice pass, Benfica's João Conde tried to score from far away in the 74th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Francisco Peseiro might have been able to make a better finish in the 76th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Manuel Leiria. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Francisco Peseiro ran back to his position shaking his head. Manuel Leiria made an important save on a dangerous shot by Francisco Peseiro in the 77th minute. Manuel Leiria made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Rodrigo Portela in the 83rd minute of play. 85 minutes into the match, Benfica's goalkeeper Manuel Leiria had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Francisco Peseiro. When Francisco Peseiro came up free with the goalie in the 86th minute, the Mesquita fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Francisco Peseiro couldn't finish the play. The supporters of Benfica booed when Mesquita was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Álvaro Teixeira didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Francisco Sarmento had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 91 minutes into the game, António Pinto was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Benfica's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Mesquita the free kick. After a rather tough play, Benfica's António Pinto got a free kick in the 91st minute. Mesquita's Francisco Peseiro got a good chance for a goal in the 93rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Álvaro Teixeira received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Manuel Leiria tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.