Casa Pia 1-1 Benfica - Eagles’ faint title hopes go up in flames in Rio Maior | OneFootball

Benfica’s season is on the verge of fading out after a 1-1 draw against Casa Pia at Estádio Municipal de Rio Maior.

Richard Ríos tested Patrick Sequeira from distance before firing a free kick over the bar, David Sousa then heading Dodi Lukébakio’s corner against the post.

Vangelis Pavlidis headed Andreas Schjelderup’s cross wide and forced a save from Sequeira, Schjelderup missing the top corner as the chances kept coming for José Mourinho’s side.

Anatoliy Trubin was finally called into action in added time after a quick free kick from the hosts, the goalkeeper denying Pedro Rosas.

Benfica regained control after the break with Rafa Silva going close. Gianluca Prestianni replaced Lukébakio before Nicolás Otamendi’s cross went begging.

The pressure finally paid off in the 68th minute when Benfica took the lead. Schjelderup headed Prestianni’s cross back into the danger area where Ríos diverted the ball into the net.

The joy was short lived with Casa Pia equalising ten minutes later. Benfica blew multiple chances to clear a long goal kick, António Silva eventually passing the ball straight to Rafael Brito who slotted it into the bottom corner.

Schjelderup wasted a presentable chance as Mourinho gambled by bringing on Franjo Ivanovic and Anísio Cabral for Alexander Bah and Enzo Barrenechea. Cabral’s shot was deflected wide but that was Benfica’s last chance, the Eagles ending with 78% possession and 18-8 shots but only three of those on target.

José Mourinho counting down the days

Casa Pia have a curious record under Álvaro Pacheco, unable to score in five road games but scoring in all five at home where they are unbeaten. The had beaten Porto and Arouca in Rio Maior before taking a point off Benfica.

The Geese are a long way from safety but have a game in hand over some of their relegation rivals.

Benfica are not mathematically out of the equation, but it would take an incredible series of results to overtake Sporting Clube de Portugal and Porto. José Mourinho basically conceded defeat after full-time: "I didn't like the first half. At half-time we talked about what we had to change tactically, but I also tried to make them understand, because sometimes there are some who seem to live and breathe football and forget about reality."

Mourinho’s side have the unenviable record of being the only undefeated team in Liga Portugal but third on the table and seven points off top spot. The result in Rio Maior was their ninth draw this season.

Mourinho can point to a slow start under Bruno Lage and avoid a large portion of the blame.

Eight draws have come under the Special One however, including stalemates at home to Rio Ave, at Tondela and both matches against Casa Pia. Turn those draws into victories and Benfica would have a one point lead at the top of the table.

He addressed that fact and took a shot at the officials, saying: "There are many factors that influenced this championship. We won't run away from that truth. And external factors had a huge impact.

"Without yet having experienced the true sadness of defeat, we had many draws that felt like defeats, like this one, the draw with Santa Clara, the one against Casa Pia in the first round - with external influences - the one against Tondela, the one against Braga - also with external influences."

It remains to be seen if Mourinho will stick with Rui Costa's project for another season. He commented about recent reports that his agent Jorge Mendes had advised him to leave the club, saying: "Jorge Mendes is my agent, but I am in charge of my own decision. What is my decision? I would like to continue at Benfica."

I suspect that's a smokescreen. He knows that Porto and Sporting have superior scouting networks and smarter squad planners, his mind probably moving towards taking charge of Portugal after the World Cup.