Arouca v Benfica: How Mourinho masterminded the comeback from afar... | OneFootball

Benfica defeated Arouca (2-1) with a goal from Franjo Ivanovic already in stoppage time, in a match where they were behind for most of the game. The Croatian forward came on in the 74th minute and ended up deciding the match.

Ivanovic’s introduction was part of a set of changes made by José Mourinho, who also brought on Amar Dedić, Georgiy Sudakov, and Gianluca Prestianni. Initially placed on the left, the Croatian switched positions with the Argentine just a few minutes before the goal.

The decisive play came from that change. Prestianni assisted Ivanovic with a through ball, allowing the forward to finish and complete the comeback. The play happened in the final moments of the match, more precisely in the 90’+6 minute.

Ivanovic has mostly been used outside his original position, despite arriving at Luz as a striker. The player has had few starts and has faced direct competition from Vangelis Pavlidis and, at times, from Anísio Cabral.

Despite irregular playing time, the forward has remained among the options and has been valued by the coaching staff for his attitude and work ethic. His performance against Arouca could influence his use in this final stage of the season.

Pavlidis, meanwhile, is going through a goalless spell, having not scored in recent matches. The possibility of changes up front remains open, with the decision depending on the Special One’s assessment.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.