Sporting beat Benfica in the women’s league and closed the gap to first place

This Sunday, Sporting beat Benfica 3-1 in the eighth round of the first Portuguese women’s football league, as a result of which the Lions’ distance from first place in the standings is reduced to two points.

In Seixal, the visitors went into the break with a 2-1 score, thanks to goals from Diana Silva (first minute) and Claudia Neto (27), and closed the scoring through Ana Capeta (62), after Carol Costa (45+ 3) had reduced the score. penalty and leave everything open for the second half.

Benfica leads the way, having won all seven matches they have played, with 21 points, followed by Sporting, who added 19 and “resumed” the fight for the title.

The Lionesses started to win in the first minute thanks to Diana Silva, who headed in a corner taken by Fatima Dutra from the right flank.

Despite the disadvantage, Benfica were not dangerous in the reaction, as they were unable to start the game in the center of the field, where the Lions, almost always superior in this area, won the ball and began to attack.

In a hesitation between Lais Araujo and Catarina Amado, striker Jacinta Gala anticipated the Eagles’ central defense and fired past Lena Pauwels, who was unable to stop the rebound from Claudia Neto (27′).

Benfica almost only created danger due to Sporting’s mistakes, and in one of these situations, goalkeeper Hannah Siebert clumsily stepped into the feet of Jessica Silva and, on the edge of the break, converted a penalty, which Carol Costa (45+3 minutes) took advantage of the opportunity to reduce.

At the break, Filipa Patao gave the team more focus in attack, bringing on Christie Ucheibe for Catarina Amado, who took over the three-unit defensive line, and Kika Nazareth for Nicolas Raisla.

The changes had the desired effect and the Eagles became more dangerous, but it was Ana Capeta (62), also on the bench, who scored again for Sporting to give the Lionesses a more comfortable lead.

In the final attack on Hannah Siebert’s goal, Benfica did reduce the score with a brilliant header from Christie Ucheibe (75′), but the match referee ruled the move invalid after reviewing the images on the advice of the video referee. due to the absence of Marie Alidou about Jacinta Gala during the performance.

The Eagles were dealt a psychological blow and, despite staying on top until the end, they never regained the sanity they had returned with for the second half and Sporting managed to hold on to their lead without too much trouble.