Volleyball: Sporting dominates Benfica and “black” force in the League final

This Wednesday afternoon, Sporting beat Benfica, in the fourth game of the League final (3-0). Forced to win to avoid the Eagles’ fifth championship, João Coelho’s men maintained their organization and effectiveness.

Review the marker’s march here.

As such, they won the opening set, 22-25. Riding on Tiago Barth’s “missiles”, the hosts recovered from a 19-20 deficit and took the lead.

Under the watchful eye of «Super» Mário Jardel, Sporting dominated the second «set», expanding the advantage from 19-16 to 24-17. Between missed services by the Eagles – most of which ended in the net – the hosts doubled the advantage (2-0), in a 25-18 partial.

A week ago, also at Pavilhão João Rocha, before the lions tied the final (1-1), Benfica still threatened to ruin an afternoon mostly dominated by João Coelho’s men. Thus, there was expectation to understand how Marcel Matz would try, once again, to tie the duel.

The recipe seemed to repeat itself. In the third set, Benfica set out to recover the disadvantage, with Lucas França and Natan building the Eagles’ advantage (5-10).

However, Van Berkel, Kobrine, Wagner Silva and Vinícius Lersch tried to balance the partial and look for a new twist. From stop and response, the draws and alternations in the lead of the «set» were successive, while the anxiety in the stands increased in tone.

Sporting had three match points, entrusting Wagner Silva with the mission of breaking the eagles’ floating wall. Thus, the relentless Brazilian let the party go at Pavilhão João Rocha. The final partial was sealed at 27-25.

Now, the title game will be played at Benfica’s home ground, starting at 7pm on Saturday. The Eagles are on the lookout for their fifth championship, after two home wins, both 3-1.

In turn, Sporting, who dreams of a seventh championship, will try to do something unprecedented this season, that is, triumph in the Eagles’ stronghold. The Lions have not won the title since 2018.