Mourinho's team suffered a shocking defeat.

The night in Leiria was expected to be a stepping stone for Benfica to defend their title, but ultimately it became a place to expose the fragility of the team under Mourinho, against a more resilient and effective Braga side.

Mourinho's hopes of winning the title with Benfica are fading after the defeat against Braga.

Despite being considered the underdog, Braga entered the Portuguese League Cup semi-final with a pragmatic yet calculated approach. They weren't obsessed with ball control, willing to cede possession to focus on pressing, aggressive tackling, and exploiting speed in transitions. This clear-cut approach caught Benfica off guard from the very first minutes.

In the 19th minute, Benfica's defense was breached. Rodrigo Zalazar had ample time to observe before setting up Pau Victor in a favorable position to finish.

A clean, cool finish opened the scoring for Braga and threw their opponents into disarray. The goal not only gave them an advantage but also boosted their confidence, allowing Braga to control the tempo of the game in their own way.

Benfica tried to push their lines forward, but all they achieved was a deadlock. Braga's high-pressure pressing stifled the midfield, while the red-shirted team's attacking options lacked ideas and were predictable.

Mourinho's Benfica has been disappointing.

Before Benfica could even settle down, they suffered another blow. In the 33rd minute, Zalazar broke the offside trap and unleashed a powerful shot to make it 2-0. The boos from the Leiria stands were an inevitable reaction after a first half in which Benfica were both outplayed and passive.

In the second half, Benfica showed an effort to change things. In the 62nd minute, Pavlidis won a penalty and he himself reduced the score to 1-2, rekindling a faint glimmer of hope. However, that was all Mourinho's team could do.

Braga remained composed. They didn't panic, didn't rush, and knew how to wait for the right moment to finish off their opponent. In the 81st minute, from a set piece, Lagerbielke scored with a precise rebound, sealing a 3-1 victory and ending any hope of a comeback for Benfica.

Benfica's 10-match unbeaten run came to an end, their Portuguese League Cup campaign ended, and they revealed weaknesses in both attack and defense. In contrast, Braga secured their place in the final with a performance showcasing organization, discipline, and composure – factors that always determine the outcome of cup matches.

Source: https://znews.vn/doi-cua-mourinho-thua-soc-post1617671.html