In the penultimate round of the National Junior Championship, Porto won 2-1 at home against Benfica, leaving all decisions deferred to the final round, which promises to be crazy, as three teams managed to celebrate the title. Famalicao (who also lost 1-3 in Alcochete on Saturday) lead with 25 points, followed by FC Porto (24) and Benfica (23 which, had they beaten FC Porto, would have moved into first place). Sporting has 22 points but can no longer be champions.
In the last round, on the 27th (next Saturday), FC Porto receives Estoril, Sporting travels to Alverca, Famalicao receives Benfica, who, if they steal points from the people of Minho, can thus ‘award’ the title to the Dragons, whose match is now scheduled for at 11 a.m., while the other two deciding games were scheduled for 5 p.m.
The balance dominated the beginning of the match and the first good opportunity was for the Reds, when Almara Gabi entered from the left and put the ball in the back post, and the Blues earned a cut from Luis Gomez.
Porto took the lead in a very awkward move in the red zone and after several rebounds Joel Carvalho opened the scoring. The Blues and Whites made the chance to make a break, but deserved two consecutive exports from Diogo Fernandez.
At a disadvantage, Benfica emerged strong in the second half, and Almara Gabi came hungry to make a difference, first hitting hard into the side-netting and then yes equalizing with a shot that went close to the right post.
With the tie, the match picked up even more and the referee, Paulo Barradas, had to intervene and began to resolve a dispute between Luis Gomez and Paul Ocon with a yellow card each.
Porto defender Antonio Ribeiro made the difference by scoring the goal in a quick counterattack for the blue and white. Blue and White captain Joel Carvalho assisted on the goal that secured the three points for the Dragons.
The Reds did everything to equalise, including Gustavo Varela hitting the post.
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