Benfica FC Porto round 12 Handball

SUMMARY OF THE GAME

Classic Handball Sunday! SL Benfica and FC Porto played in the 12th round of the National Championship, a tight match played to the end. At the Dragão Arena, triumph for the hosts: 27-25.

Classic of the classics on the agenda this Sunday morning, with rivals to measure strength north of the country. At the entrance to this roundabout, Benfica overall unbeaten, with 11 wins in 11 games played, 33 points added a lot of class and quality. On the other hand, FC Porto in 3rd position, with a total of ten wins (30 points), which is one game less.

Collected ingredients for another great handball match … and they did!

First minutes of mutual study, with few goals, some mistakes and little efficiency! FC Porto took the lead, but the eagles leapt forward for 2-3 (6 ‘), obtaining a three-goal advantage (4-7) in the middle of the first part. Free time for blues and whites required immediately and with effect, with the hosts getting a tie (8-8).

The red ones remained balance at the command of the markerbut at 23 ‘FC Porto leaps forward (11-10), with Alfredo Quintana highlighted in the door. With two goals ahead of the home team (12-10) moment for Chema Rodríguez to ask for a stop to the game to reorganize the troops.

Benfica reacted and did not let the opponent get away (12-12), not even inside numerical inferiority in the face of Matic Suholeznik’s two-minute suspension. Until the interval the game remained balanced by the scorer who recorded a 15-14… a goal that separates the two teams, all open for the second half.

To react, strong entry, with Petar Djordjic at the equalizer. After another great defense by the blue and white goalkeeper and the post returned the ball to Paulo Moreno, stop in the game to solve technical problems related to the board and the playing time … (16-15).

Back to the meeting and a lot of balance, with lineups to match, “taco to taco”, without any of them being able to shoot the marker. Subsequent draws, minimum margin differences.

With the minutes that pass the challenge acquired more intensity, with very hard duels and the goalkeepers in evidence on both goals. Midway through the second half, FC Porto took a three-goal lead for the first time (23-20), forcing the eagles to react.

The irons, Alfredo Quintana, some technical failures and the effectiveness to be lowered, have allowed the hosts to expand to 24-20 at the entrance of the last ten minutes. There was an urgent need to stop the challenge and the eagles trainer did it!

In numerical inferiority (excluding Arnau García), reduced João Pais (24-21) and set the tone. With about two minutes to play at the Dragão Arena, hot emotions, with a single goal that separates the rivals (25-24), but once again Alfredo Quintana decided and said no to the recovery of the red.

Until the end, Benfica fought hard, never threw in the towel on the ground and left the classic with their heads held high. Triumph for the blues and whites (27-25), in a close match, much disputed and with uncertainty in the marker until the end.

The next day, the team led by Chema Rodríguez returns to the Pavilion n. 2 from Luz to face the SC Horta.

FC Porto-SL Benfica, 27-25

Text: Sónia Antunes

FPA photos