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AEK was coming into this game having played five games and
only allowing a total of three goals against. Benfica had
played four, and let in a total of six. According to the
available statistics, AEK was coming in with a slight
performance advantage. Benfica was respectable nonetheless,
with only a single loss, two wins and a tie. With fairly
strong winds and some light rain behind them AEK came out
with the opening whistle in typical fashion, quickly moving
the ball up through the midfield and setting up a multitude
of offensive opportunities with their pin-point passing
along with their sheer speed and agility. It became obvious
in the early going that Benfica's experienced keeper would
be given a serious workout for the full 90 minutes of play
as a number of shots were registered on net even before the
five minute mark.
It was Nelson Caeiro's expressed hope
however (Sports Director for Benfica's Premier Division and
First Division teams), that this game would result in an
outcome that would mark an improvement over last year's
Premier Division Cup Final played against AEK last October -
a game Benfica went down to defeat in to the tune of 5-nil.
Within the first segment of the half Benfica not only had
difficulty with the wind and rain, but also with AEK's very
effective efforts at breaking up their passing plays. AEK's
cooperative style and on-field discipline are without a
doubt two of the club's strongest characteristics. However
at about 15 minutes Benfica would get a break. Having
broken in on a rare occasion a Benfica striker approached
the AEK box with no one between him and the mesh except the
AEK keeper. The AEK keeper quickly rushed out to the
incoming player and grabbed the ball before he could get a
shot away. Unfortunately for the keeper however, the ball
had not yet penetrated the 18 yard line. This was
interpreted by the official as an offense deserving a red
card, and the keeper was ejected and the free kick awarded.
Although the free kick did not result in a goal, Benfica
would enjoy a man advantage for the rest of the game. It
was yet to be seen if this would afford Benfica an
opportunity to win against this talented AEK squad.
As the
wind died down Benfica would mount some significant pressure
against the AEK goal as the play became more back and forth,
but it was AEK striking first (on what would be the only
goal of the game). At 40 minutes, 4 AEK strikers broke in on
the Benfica goal - converting easily on a tight passing play
that gave the keeper little chance. At this point in the
game the poor weather had subsided, the sun came out, and
the game began to be played more quickly and naturally, much
to the delight of the many fans for both sides on hand. |
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With the opening of the second half a pattern of play began
to emerge based on what had happened in the first. AEK's
athleticism and nimble-footedness was put on display as they
made attempt after offensive attempt at breaking through the
Benfica defenses. Benfica definitely had an advantage in
player size and possibly overall strength, and their many
slide tackles would break up the majority of AEK offensive
plays. The ones that they didn't resulted in missed shots
or ones that were effectively handled by the very capable
(and busy) Benfica keeper. Unfortunately for Benfica
however, when they were effective at moving the ball up
field
after breaking up one of these attempts, their forwards came
up slightly short when making their own offensive plays.
If
the Benfica strikers had been slightly more aggressive and
effective, with the man advantage they could very likely
have tied the game and earned the single point. Most of the
play throughout the second half remained in their end
though, with the AEK forwards testing the Benfica keeper
over and over again with all manner of shots and attempts to
score. Indeed they came very close on two corner kick
opportunities late the the game in making it two or three
nil. The Benfica defenses held tight however, and they lost
the match only by a single goal. JHS |
