Benfica beat Atletico CP 2-0 thanks to Mourinho's substitutions.
Portuguese Cup Round Four: Benfica were deadlocked in the first half, Mourinho made four substitutions at the start of the second half; Ríos headed in the 73rd minute, Pavlidis sealed the 2-0 victory, and they advanced to the Round of 16.
Benfica defeated Atletico CP 2-0 in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup thanks to decisive adjustments made by Jose Mourinho early in the second half. Richard Rios opened the scoring with a header in the 73rd minute, before Pavlidis coolly converted the penalty. Mourinho's team secured their place in the round of 16, concluding a seemingly easy but ultimately difficult evening at the Restelo Stadium.
The "key press" at the start of the second half: 4 substitutions changed the entire course of the game.
In the first half, Benfica played disjointedly, making repeated mistakes in their build-up play from their own half and allowing Atletico CP to create many dangerous scoring opportunities. Realizing the deadlock, Mourinho made a bold decision: he made four substitutions at the start of the second half. The fresh players from the bench helped the visitors control the ball better and tighten the tempo of the game, pushing their opponents back into their own half.
| The player leaves the field. | People entering the stadium | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tomas Araujo | Dahl | Beginning of the second half |
| Barrenechea | Rios | Beginning of the second half |
| Ivanovic | Barreiro | Beginning of the second half |
| Joao Rego | Schjelderup | Beginning of the second half |
The decisive moment: Rios breaks the ice, Pavlidis seals the victory.
The dominance gained after the substitutions was materialized in the 73rd minute. From a corner kick, Richard Rios rose high to head the ball powerfully into the net, scoring the opening goal and making it 1-0 against Atletico CP. This goal relieved the pressure and allowed Benfica's attacking play to become more fluid.
A few minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty. Pavlidis stepped up to the spot and made no mistake, doubling the lead to 2-0. In injury time, Benfica had another penalty, but captain Otamendi failed to beat goalkeeper Rodrigo Dias, missing the opportunity to extend the lead.
A tough first half: early warnings and near misses.
Atletico CP started confidently and nearly punished Benfica's mistakes. In the very first minute, Joaozinho unleashed a powerful long-range shot that forced Samuel Soares to be on alert. Shortly after, Ricardo Dias headed the ball from close range, forcing the visiting goalkeeper to make a save.
Benfica also had some counter-attacks, but they lacked accuracy. Ivanovic was active, and center-back Antonio Silva had a dangerous header, but the ball still couldn't find the back of the net. Before halftime, Benfica's goal was threatened again after an improvised shot from Delcio and a shot over the crossbar from Catarino.
Key developments (selected)
- Minute 1: Joaozinho warns with a long-range shot, Samuel Soares makes the save.
- Ricardo Dias headed the ball from close range, but Soares made another save for Benfica.
- Towards the end of the first half: Delcio had a dangerous shot, but Catarino shot over the crossbar.
- At the start of the second half, Mourinho made four substitutions, and Benfica regained control.
- 73rd minute: Richard Rios heads in the opening goal for Benfica from a corner kick, making it 1-0.
- Then: Pavlidis scored to make it 2-0 from the penalty spot.
- Injury time: Otamendi misses the penalty as Rodrigo Dias saves it.
Impact and the next stage
The 2-0 victory, coupled with a clear impact from the coaching staff, propelled Benfica into the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup. This is an important morale boost ahead of their trip to Amsterdam to face Ajax in the Champions League next week.
