On Saturday afternoon, Benfica became national junior champions for the 2021/22 season with a 3-0 home win over Sporting de Braga in a crazy championship final, from Seixal to Vila Nova de Gaia, where ” Porto at the same time defeated Estoril 6-0.
The Reds, counting only on themselves at the start of the day, despite the same 30 points as Porto, but the advantage over the Dragons – even in the third tie-break, the total goal difference in the phase (18 positive for 14 FC Porto) – they were practically in second place for almost the entire second half, but they did not leave loans from third parties and ended up having a party at home.
After a 0-0 break with Benfica-Sp. In Braga, and also in Porto Estoril, the Dragons opened the scoring at the very beginning of the second half and even won 4-0, while in Seixal it was still zero, but everything has changed – and it has become absolutely frenzied – from minute 86.
At the time, Iurie Moreira opened the scoring for Benfica, and further north Porto responded 5-0 the next minute, one goal away from relying on themselves. However, in the 88th minute, Benfica again scored with a double from Iuri Moreira. The Dragons still reached 6-0 in the third of five minutes of stoppage time and were again only one goal away from the title, but Franculino Joo at 90+5 in Seixal condemned the score and FC chances. Porto is still dreaming, signing a 3-0 score in Seixal.
In total, six goals have been scored between the two fields in the last ten minutes. Porto opened the scoring with Rui Monteiro (46m), Thiago Antunes made it 2-0 (62m) shortly after sending off Rodrigo Ribeiro at Estoril, and Giorgi Abuashvili made it 3-0 (72m), even more increased the chances of winning the title. for blue and white. Jorge Meireles then did it 4-0 (82m) and Rui Monteiro (88m and 90+3m) finished hat trick it almost reached the men of José Tavares, but the junior title, the first awarded since 2019 – due to covid-19 – was even for the men of Luis Araujo.
Since in the first two tie-breaks there was equality (on points and goals in opposition to each other), given that Benfica beat Porto at home with a score of 1: 0, and Porto beat Benfica at home with a score 3:2, it was necessary to look at the third tie-break – goals for the entire phase, if both teams scored the same number of points. That is exactly what happened.
Benfica are champions with 33 points, like Porto, but have benefited from greater goal difference: 21 pluses (35–14) against Porto’s 20 pluses (29–9). With a 3-0 triumph for Benfica and for example Porto would only become champions if they won at least 8-0 and overcame Benfica’s goal difference.
In the other two games of the last round this Saturday, Sporting defeated Alverca 4-0 and finished the championship in third place. There was also a two-goal draw at V. Guimarães Riou Avenue.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION:
1st: Benfica, 33 points
2nd: Porto, 33
3.º: Sporting, 25
4th: Sp. Braga, 21
5th place: Estoril, 19 years old
6th place: V. Guimarães, 10 years old
7th place: Alverka, 8
8th: Rio Avenue 5
