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Rafa's Late Winner Seals Derby Thriller for Benfica
19 Apr
Summary
- Rafa scored a dramatic late winner in stoppage time.
- Benfica goalkeeper saved a crucial penalty kick.
- Sporting had a late equalizer disallowed by VAR.
A dramatic Lisbon derby concluded with Benfica securing a vital 2-1 victory over Sporting CP, thanks to Rafa's decisive late goal. The match, held recently, was packed with twists and a crucial VAR intervention that shaped its outcome.
Benfica took the lead in the first half after Andreas Schjelderup converted a penalty, awarded when Hidemasa Morita handled the ball in the box. However, Sporting fought back, with Morita leveling the score in the 72nd minute with a header. The match was set for a frantic finish when Sporting's Rafael Nel thought he had scored a late winner in the 91st minute, but it was disallowed for offside.
In the dying moments, Benfica launched a swift counter-attack, culminating in Rafa forcing the ball over the line for the winning goal. This result extends Benfica's league unbeaten run to 30 matches, a club record for a season start. The victory strengthens Benfica's title aspirations and puts increased pressure on Sporting.
