Benfica Vs. Sporting Braga: Benfica Earn Narrow Home Win

Benfica defeated Sporting Braga at the Estadio da Luz by a final score of 2-1 after goals from Oscar Cardazo and Jardel sandwiched a phenomenal second-half header from Braga’s Vandinho. Although the first half ended 0-0, a series of close calls around the Beaga net implied that goals were coming, and it was the much-maligned Oscar Cardazo who was central to the opener.

Cardazo, who’s been on a run of form that one might charitably describe as ‘disappointing’, had hit the post in the first half as well as seeing a goal disallowed for offside, and his neat header in the 50th minute... found the post again. Fortunately for Benfica, defender Jardel was on hand to mop up the rebound and break the deadlock, giving the hosts the advantage.

The advantage was chewed up and spat back out by a moment of magic from Vandinho, who met a Miguel Viana free kick with a stunning eighteen-yard reverse header (he wasn’t even looking at the goal) that flew past Jiminez Roberto and into the top corner. It was an absolutely beautiful strike, but it wouldn’t stand, Cardozo finally getting the goal his play deserved when he smacked a free kick of his own into the back of the net so hard it bounced back out of the goal.

2-1 would stand until the final whistle, despite Benfica threatening to grab a third for most of the rest of the game. So, it’s advantage very much to the Lisbon side as we head towards the second leg of the semifinal. The winning team will almost certainly play Porto, who demolished Villarreal 5-1 in their home leg after going down 1-0 early on.