Benfica 1-1 Rio Ave: stunning stoppage-time strike ruins Mourinho’s homecoming | OneFootball

José Mourinho’s first match back at the Estádio da Luz ended in disappointment as the points were shared with lowly Rio Ave.

Despite dominating possession Benfica struggled to create chances, but Georgiy Sudakov’s 86th-minute goal after good work by substitute Dodi Lukebakio seemed to have won all three points.

André Luiz had other ideas though, the talented Brazilian scoring a brilliant equaliser on the counter-attack to make it a frustrating night for the home supporters.

Rio Ave star duo benched

Mourinho selected the same lineup that got the job done at AFS on Saturday, but his opposite number Sotiris Sylaidopoulos pulled a big surprise by leaving out his two most potent weapons in striker Clayton and winger André Luiz.

An insipid first half could only end goalless. A Pavlidis shot on the turn that was saved by Cezary Miszta was the only chance of note as Benfica’s slow buildup and lack of creativity came back to bite them.

Rio Ave were even worse, the visitors packing their defence and showing nothing in attack, perhaps belying a lack of confidence after five winless games this season.

Mourinho must have chosen the right words at the break as Benifca came out a different team in the second half, although it needed a superb tackle by Dedic to dispossess Aguilera and deny Rio Ave a big chance.

Benfica’s pressure was mounting, a Pavlidis header bringing a scrambling save out of Miszta, and on the hour mark the huge crowd at the Luz exploded in joy as the Eagles at last had the ball in the net.

VAR rules out Benfica opener

Otamendi won the ball in the box, his cross headed firmly towards goal by António Silva. The ball crossed the line before being cleared, but Pavlidis picking up the pieces shot low into the net to make sure. However, a VAR check ruled out the goal for a foul by Otamendi at the start of the move.

Meanwhile, Clayton and Luiz had been thrown on into the action by Sotiris, but it was Benfica’s two substitutes Andreas Schjelderup and especially Lukebakio who had the bigger impact, the Belgian bringing new vim to the Benfica attack.

Lukebakio immediately had two shots at goal, then delivered a wicked cross that Ricardo Ríos was inches away for turning into the net. On his Benfica debut Lukebakio was electric and the winger’s speed and direct style will surely be a useful weapon for Benfica when he is fully fit.

Lukebakio’s key intervention

It was Lukebakio who finally engineered the breakthrough, a turn of pace leaving his marker in the dust and a clever cut-back thumped into the net by Sudakov for his second goal in two games.

With 86 minutes on the clock the vast majority of the 60,000 crowd in the stadium breathed a huge collective sigh of relief.

Mourinho took off goalscorer Sudokov for Barreiro to “shut-up shop” and few would have predicted the dramatic late twist.

Spectacular Luiz hit

André Luiz picked up the ball on the right flank, drove into the penalty area and curled a sumptuous angled shot into the far top corner leaving Trubin rooted to his spot.

There was still close to 10 minutes of stoppage time played, but no further goals were added.

José Mourinho post-match

“We didn’t do enough in the first half. The second half was good, within our limitations. We were dominant, aggressive and created chances, always playing in their half of the pitch. The two players who came on shook up the game.

“We scored a goal. If this is the new football, when goals are ruled out because a small toe steps on another small toe, I don’t like this new football. But that’s the way it is so we have to accept it. We kept trying and finally got the goal, but we conceded when we can’t concede a goal.

“It’s tremendously unfair and an awful result for us. It was the game that Rio Ave wanted and which the referee allowed.

“We are not an overly physical team or strong in the air. We have to penetrate using other routes. With Aursnes and Ivanovic there’s little width, because of the type of players they are. We tried with Dedic and Dahl, and also with Lukebakio, who is not yet fully fit, and with Andreas [Schjelderup].

“We were hit on the break and a team that is winning cannot concede a goal like that. We lost two points because of it.”

Benfica 1-1 Rio Ave highlights

Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Amar Dedic, Nicolás Otamendi, António Silva, Samuel Dahl (Andreas Schjelderup, 65’) Richard Ríos (Henrique Araújo, 90+3’), Enzo Barrenechea, Franjo Ivanovic (Dodi Lukebakio, 65’), Georgiy Sudakov (Leandro Barreiro, 88’), Fredrik Aursnes, Vangelis Pavlidis