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Mourinho couldn't win the league with Benfica. |
However, ironically, the impressive unbeaten run was still not enough to help the "Eagles" clinch the championship. This could also be Mourinho's last match with Benfica before accepting the offer to manage Real Madrid.
At the Antonio Coimbra da Mota stadium, Benfica started explosively and almost decided the match in less than 20 minutes. In the 7th minute, Richard Rios opened the scoring after a scramble from a corner kick. In the 15th minute, Alexander Bah doubled the lead with a close-range finish before Rafa Silva made it 3-0 just one minute later.
Benfica's dominant performance in the first half demonstrated their effectiveness under Mourinho. The visitors unleashed 19 shots, 8 of which were on target. Their high-pressure pressing and rapid transitions left Estoril virtually defenseless for much of the match.
However, the second half reflected the problems that caused Benfica to lose the championship this season. Mourinho's team deliberately slowed down the pace, allowing Estoril to create more dangerous opportunities. Goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin had to make five saves to keep the visitors' advantage.
Coach Ian Cathro's changes significantly improved Estoril's performance. Kevin Boma brought stability to the defense, while Peixinho scored a consolation goal in injury time.
Despite finishing the season undefeated, Benfica only managed to secure third place behind Porto and Sporting Lisbon. This is a rare scenario in modern European football, where a team that remains undefeated still ends up empty-handed in the title race.
Source: https://znews.vn/mourinho-bat-bai-ca-mua-giai-post1652217.html
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