This afternoon, Benfica achieved an important victory in the fight for the title, defeating Sp. Braga, 4-1, in the 18th round of the national women’s football championship.
Despite the result, the game was far from easy.
In the hangover after the historic game against Lyon, in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League, the Reds practically lost, as Vitória Almeida made it 1-0 for Braga in the 11th minute, served by Dolores Silva.
In the 19th minute, Andreia Faria, after a pass from Lúcia Alves, made it 1-1, but it was necessary to wait for the last quarter of an hour for the tie to be broken.
Seconds after having missed an open goal, Kika Nazareth appeared in Patrícia Morais’ face and this time he didn’t waste it: 2-1 in the 77th minute.
The eagles grew even more, against a discouraged Sp. Braga, and even scored two more goals. Alidou took advantage of a gross error by Patrícia Morais to make it 3-1 in the 84th minute, and two minutes in, almost by accident, Kika scored twice, after another assist from Lúcia Alves.
With this result, Benfica maintains a five-point advantage over Sporting, second placed. Sp. Braga is third, in condition.
Sporting, moreover, beat Famalicão, tenth placed, 4-1 earlier.
Olivia Smith (9m and 40m), Diana Silva (30m) and Joana Martins (61m) scored for the Lionesses, while Neuza Besugo reduced for the Famalicense team in the 90th minute.
In the next round, there is a Sporting-Benfica.
