Benfica closed the league stage of the UEFA Youth League with a 3-0 victory over Napoli on matchday six. The Eagles entered the field with the round of 16 guaranteed, but with the aim of finishing this phase in the top-6… something they would eventually achieve.
Vítor Vinha launched two under-17 World champions in the eleven – Daniel Banjaqui and Rafael Quintas. Benfica quickly created danger for Spinelli’s goal. After just 2 minutes, the Reds recovered the ball in an advanced zone and Gonçalo Moreira shot at the left post of the Italian goal.
At 6′, here was Napoli’s first sign of danger, albeit in a timid manner. Barido, in a move from the right to the middle, entered the area and shot weakly into the hands of Diogo Ferreira.
At the 10th minute, Gonçalo Moreira suffered a harsh foul, which earned Genovese a yellow card. It was Gonçalo Moreira himself who took the free kick. Gonçalo Oliveira appeared to head the ball, but Spinelli was alert. At 18′, Eduardo Fernandes came close to the goal with a treacherous cross that didn’t go wide of the target. Francisco Silva still tried to deflect, but arrived too late.
Just before 30′, Benfica opened the scoring. Eduardo Fernandes lost the ball, but hurried to recover it. After a moment of possession, Gonçalo Moreira took a guided cross from the right and Francisco Silva didn’t waste it, heading it into the back of the net.
The second half started with clear opportunities for both sides. In the 51st minute, following a free kick for Naples, Gonçalo Oliveira headed the ball away and almost scored an own goal. Thanks to Diogo Ferreira, who was attentive and made a huge save, keeping the score 1-0.
Benfica reacted and took advantage of an offer from Naples to create danger. Gonçalo Moreira only had eyes for the goal, took the ball, but was unable to beat Spinelli. After 60′, with Samuel Dahl, José Neto, João Rego and António Silva in the stands watching, Francisco Silva took off, passed two opponents with class and only didn’t celebrate the 2-0 because Gambardella cut the ball… against his own post.
In the 72nd minute, Vítor Vinha’s men extended their lead. Gonçalo Moreira scored twice in assists, this time after taking a corner, and Gonçalo Oliveira headed in accurately.
Benfica, already with some changes, pressed in search of more goals and managed to score one more. Before 3-0, Gonçalo Moreira hit the ball against the post, coming very close to a great goal. At 78′, the ball really went in. João Afonso assisted and Duarte Soares finished with an acrobatic shot, in a move created by players introduced in the second half.
Benfica finishes the Youth League league phase with 15 points out of a possible 18, in the first six placed, and, therefore, will face one of the teams that finishes between 17th and 22nd places. Napoli says goodbye to the competition.
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