LISBON, PORTUGAL — For a nation that prides itself on technical mastery and attacking flair, this was a sobering reminder that Portuguese football's beauty can be matched by its grit. Benfica, sitting third in the Primeira Liga with title ambitions still flickering, needed until the 86th minute to finally subdue a defiant Alverca side that refused to accept their underdog status in a pulsating 2-1 encounter at Estádio da Luz.
The statistics told one story - Benfica's 63.5% possession and 29 shots compared to Alverca's six suggested dominance. But football, as it so often does, told another. This was a tale of resilience meeting relentlessness, of a goalkeeper standing between his team and humiliation, and ultimately of late drama rescuing three points that looked destined to slip away.
Andreas Schjelderup had given the hosts an early advantage in the 16th minute, his right-footed finish from the left side of the six-yard box finding the bottom corner with clinical precision. For Benfica's fervent support, it seemed the floodgates might open. They were wrong. Alverca, representing the working-class spirit of Portuguese football's smaller clubs, had other ideas.
The equalizer arrived in the 30th minute and silenced the home crowd. Figueiredo, assisted by Marezi, struck from the centre of the box with conviction, his right-footed effort beating Anatoliy Trubin to restore parity. Suddenly, the ninth-placed visitors believed. Their defensive organization, marshaled by Bastien Meupiyou and Sergi Gómez, frustrated Benfica's attacking quartet of Rafa, Gianluca Prestianni, Vangelis Pavlidis, and Schjelderup throughout the first half.
The second half became an exercise in attacking futility for Benfica. Wave after wave crashed against Alverca's defensive wall, with Matheus Mendes emerging as the undisputed hero. The goalkeeper made eight saves across the match, including three spectacular stops to deny Prestianni in the 58th, 69th, and 76th minutes. Each save drew roars from the traveling support tucked away in the Estádio da Luz's upper tiers.
Benfica's frustration manifested in their shot count - 29 attempts with only 10 on target revealed a lack of composure in the final third. Fredrik Aursnes and Sidny Cabral worked tirelessly in midfield, trying to unlock the visitors' compact shape, but Alverca's discipline held firm. Vasco Moreira and Francisco Chissumba disrupted Benfica's rhythm with well-timed challenges, conceding 18 fouls but maintaining their defensive integrity.
The turning point arrived in the 60th minute when Vangelis Pavlidis thought he had restored Benfica's lead, only for VAR to intervene and rule out the goal for handball. The Greek striker's frustration was palpable, but it galvanized his teammates. Manager Roger Schmidt introduced fresh legs - Heorhii Sudakov, Bruma, and crucially, Anísio Cabral - in search of a breakthrough.
Cabral's introduction in the 85th minute proved inspired. Just sixty seconds later, Samuel Dahl delivered a perfect cross from the left flank, and the substitute rose unmarked to power a header into the bottom right corner. The Estádio da Luz erupted. For Alverca, who had defended with such courage and organization for 86 minutes, it was a cruel blow.
The final minutes descended into chaos. Tomás Araújo received a yellow card in the 90th minute for a desperate foul as Alverca pushed for another equalizer. Nicolás Otamendi required treatment after a collision, and six minutes of added time tested Benfica's nerves. But they held firm, securing three points that keep them in the title conversation with 35 points from 14 matches.
For Alverca, this performance - despite the defeat - showcased why they sit comfortably in ninth place with 17 points. Their defensive resilience and counter-attacking threat, led by Lincoln and Nabil Touaizi, demonstrated that Portugal's smaller clubs possess the tactical sophistication to trouble the elite. Mendes's eight saves will be replayed in Alverca's training ground for weeks as an example of goalkeeping excellence.
Benfica's nine corners to Alverca's one illustrated their territorial dominance, yet the narrow margin of victory exposed their vulnerability when opponents sit deep and defend with discipline. The absence of clinical finishing nearly cost them dearly, and Schmidt will demand greater efficiency when his side faces tougher opposition in the weeks ahead.
The victory keeps Benfica within striking distance of the league leaders, though their goal difference of +22 suggests they've been more comfortable in other fixtures this season. This was a test of character as much as quality, and while they passed, the manner of their struggle will concern those with championship ambitions.
Alverca travel to face Tondela on February 15, carrying the confidence that they can compete with anyone in this league when their defensive structure holds firm and Mendes continues his inspired form between the posts.