O Benfica B faced Blackburn Rovers this Thursday, October 17th, in the 2nd round of the group stage of the Premier League International Cup. The match, which took place at The Wham Stadium, ended in a 1-1 draw (1-1). Luan Farias scored the eagles’ goal.
High pressure and ball recoveries were constant from the red and black team in the first minutes of the game, which had the plus sign in the match. Hugo Félix was the one who most tried to aim for the English goal and, with two shots from outside the area, he created a lot of danger.
With long and individual passes, it was felt that the goal for Nélson Veríssimo’s men would come. AND in the 32nd minute, Benfica B even took the lead (0-1), through Luan Farias. Ivan Lima crossed, with precision, weight and measure, from the rightand the Eagles’ number 99, first in the area, didn’t forgive. Luan Farias came close to scoring twice a few minutes later with a shot against the post.
Blackburn managed to react and, after a recovery in midfield, the ball appeared for Harry Lonard, who, at 41′, equalized the match (1-1). Upon the whistle for half-time, highlight for a great save by Pedro Souzato a header in the area, which prevented the British from scoring a second goal.
With a strong start in the complementary stage, Benfica had a great opportunity to return to the lead on the scoreboard after 55th minute, on a penalty to punish a takedown by Luan Farias in the area. Called on to convert, Hugo Félix allowed Jack Barrett to save. Following the bidthe goalkeeper would save Francisco Neto’s reload to the post.
The eagles had two more good opportunities until the end of the match, for Hugo Felix e Francisco Dominguesthis one with a shot from outside the area, but the game ended in a draw (1-1).
In the next match in the competition, scheduled for November 22nd, Benfica B visits Middlesbrough.
Blackburn Rovers-Benfica B
1-1
The Wham Stadium
Pedro Souza, Nuno Félix (João Veloso, 46′), Lenny Lacroix, Paul Okon, Beni Souza (Rodrigo Rego, 75′), Francisco Domingues, Hugo Félix, Diogo Spencer, Rafael Luís (Francisco Neto, 46′), Ivan Lima (João Fonseca, 46′) and Luan Farias
Ricardo Ribeiro, Francisco Neto (46′), João Fonseca (46′), Guilherme Gaspar, Rodrigo Rego (75′) and João Veloso (46′)
Nelson Veríssimo
Jack Barrett, Callum Brittain (Paul Murphy-Worrell, 46′), Brandon Powell, Rhys Doherty, Matty Litherland, Adam Caddick (Zack Stritch, 70′), Tom Bloxham (Aodhan Doherty, 46′), James Edmondson, Harry Leonard (Exaucé Mafoumbi, 90’+2′), Harley O’Grady-Macken e Igor Tyjon
Solomon Honor, Paul Murphy-Worrell (46′), Aodhan Doherty (46′), Exuce Mafoumbi (90’+2′), Max Davies, Zack Stritch (70′) and Lewis Bell
1-1
Benfica B and Blackburn Rovers Share Spoils in Premier League International Cup Clash
Match Overview
On Thursday, October 17th, Benfica B faced off against Blackburn Rovers in the highly anticipated 2nd round of the group stage of the Premier League International Cup. Hosted at the picturesque The Wham Stadium, the game concluded in a neck-and-neck 1-1 draw. Luan Farias, the Eagles’ sharpshooter, found the net first, but Harry Leonard equalized shortly before halftime.
First Half: A Tale of Two Goals
Right off the bat, the intensity was palpable! The red and black lads swarmed the pitch with high pressure and relentless ball recoveries that would make your grandma’s vacuum cleaner look lazy. Hugo Félix took centre stage early on, hammering away at the English goal with two shots from outside the box that had fans gasping, “Is it dangerous, or is it just Hugo?”
As the match progressed, Benfica B displayed some beautifully orchestrated football, with long and individual passes that hinted at the drama to come. In the 32nd minute, Luan Farias didn’t just step up; he leaped onto the scene like a superhero in a cape, scoring the first goal with a textbook finish after a delightful cross from Ivan Lima. At this moment, it seemed Benfica B had cracked the code to victory.
But as fate would have it and as my bank account would attest, every high comes with a few lows. Just as we were sipping our celebratory drinks, Harry Leonard decided to ruin our party by leveling the score for Blackburn, striking just before the halftime whistle. A classic case of “You score; we score, too!”
Second Half: Missed Opportunities and Heroic Saves
The second half kicked off and, honestly, if the Eagles had wings, they would have soared straight back into the lead. A golden opportunity presented itself in the 55th minute when a penalty was awarded for a takedown of Luan Farias in the box. But what happened next? It was like watching a comedy of errors: Hugo Félix took charge but ended up giving the opposing goalkeeper, Jack Barrett, more of a warm-up session than a challenge by hitting it straight into his gloves. A few more shots were fired, including a rebound that could’ve shattered the net—all culminating in not just a few frustrated groans from the Benfica fans.
As they say, “It’s a game of two halves,” and Benfica B kept pushing with more golden opportunities from both Hugo Félix and Francisco Domingues, but alas, the match concluded as a deprived draw at 1-1. Spoiler alert: nobody took home the three points!
What’s Next for Benfica B?
The next thrilling chapter of this tournament awaits as Benfica B is set to visit Middlesbrough on November 22nd. Will they find their scoring boots, or will they continue their run of near misses? Only time will tell!
Final Thoughts
This match was a brilliant exhibition of youth football, with Benfica B showing flashes of brilliance marred by moments of misfortune—and let’s face it, if there were a club for missed penalties, they’d be campaign leaders! With Nelson Veríssimo at the helm, there’s plenty of room for growth and improvement. So buckle up, sports fans; the saga of Benfica B is far from over!
Match Stats
| Competition | Premier League International Cup | Group B | 2nd day | 10/17/2024 |
|---|---|
| Final Score | Blackburn Rovers 1 – 1 Benfica B |
| Goalscorers | Luan Farias (Benfica B, 32′); Harry Leonard (Blackburn Rovers, 41′) |
Benfica B Line-Up
Pedro Souza; Nuno Félix (João Veloso, 46′), Lenny Lacroix, Paul Okon, Beni Souza (Rodrigo Rego, 75′), Francisco Domingues, Hugo Félix, Diogo Spencer, Rafael Luís (Francisco Neto, 46′), Ivan Lima (João Fonseca, 46′), and Luan Farias.
Blackburn Rovers Line-up
Jack Barrett; Callum Brittain (Paul Murphy-Worrell, 46′), Brandon Powell, Rhys Doherty, Matty Litherland, Adam Caddick (Zack Stritch, 70′), Tom Bloxham (Aodhan Doherty, 46′), James Edmondson, Harry Leonard (Exaucé Mafoumbi, 90’+2′), Harley O’Grady-Macken, and Igor Tyjon.
