Fiorentina 1-2 Benfica
Benfica are closing in on a potential International Champions Cup title after pulling off a last-gasp 2-1 win over Fiorentina. Substitute Caio’s strike in the 93rd minute sealed the stunning victory for the Portuguese champions.
Benfica’s win is the latest addition to a growing list of games with late International Champions Cup 2019 highlights. Arsenal’s late win over Bayern Munich to Harry Kane’s incredible halfway-line stoppage-time winner over Juventus are two others that come to mind.
As for Fiorentina, they will be left to rue an unbelievable miss by midfielder Marco Benassi, who failed to score despite having an open goal at his mercy.
Highlights of the game
Benfica were all business early on, and it took them just nine minutes to open the scoring. Raul de Tomas, who was recently signed from Real Madrid, delivered a good cross into the six-yard box, which Haris Seferovic attacked in a flash. The Swiss striker got in front of a Fiorentina defender and stabbed the ball home from close range.
Even after going in front, Benfica continued to threaten down their left flank. de Tomas tried his luck with a shot from a tight angle, but it did not trouble Terraciano. Minutes later, Seferovic got a header on target after a cross from Gabriel Pires, but it lacked any sort of power.
The Portuguese were so close to doubling their lead on 24 minutes, and de Tomas was once again prominently involved. After yet another cross from the left, the forward uncorked a wonderful volley that looked destined for the bottom corner.
However, he was denied by a brilliant reaction save by Terraciano, who was somehow able to get a hand on the spectacular strike.
Fiorentina finally got their first good goalscoring opportunity right at the half-hour mark, and that turned out to be their equaliser. Dusan Vlahovic placed his shot perfectly into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, just beyond the reach of Ivan Zlobin.
Benfica nearly hit back almost immediately as Nuno Tavares tried his luck fro
m long distance. But Terraciano saw the shot all the way and was able to make the save. Tavares then supplied a cross to de Paula, who wasn’t able to get enough power on.
Vlahovic very nearly doubled his tally at the stroke of half-time, but Zlobin was able to smother the ball to preserve the 1-1 scoreline heading into the break.
And minutes after the break, Fiorentina really should have gone in front. Vlahovic very nearly got his second as his shot hit the post. The rebound fell kindly to Marco Benassi, who had a wide-open goal to aim at. But the Fiorentina midfielder somehow conspired to sky his shot over the bar, to the despair of his team.
Benfica had their own chance to go back in front on 54 minutes. After a neat one-two, Rafa’s attempt to curl one into the top corner went just inches wide.
Federico Chiesa, who has been linked with a move to Juventus, came on at half-time for Fiorentina but didn’t make much of an impact. He had a chance to get a shot off inside the penalty area, but it was blocked.
Gabriel Pires then came agonisingly close with his sweetly struck volley off a corner. The shot had Fiorentina keeper Bartlomiej Dragowski beaten, but it whistled just wide.
The deadlock breaker eventually came for Benfica right at the death as two of their substitutes combined to great effect. Chiquinho’s cross found Caio all alone in the centre of the goal, and the Portuguese winger made no mistake as he smashed in the winner.
Key statistics
While possession was relatively even between the two, Benfica had the big advantage in terms of actual shots. They nearly doubled Fiorentina’s total (20-11) and also had twice as many shots on target (8-4).
Seferovic and de Tomas did most of the damage for Benfica. de Tomas, in particular, supplied six shots in total, although only one was on target.
What’s next?
With two wins out of two, Bruno Lage’s Benfica are in prime position to win the International Champions Cup. Their final match will be on Sunday against AC Milan, and they stand a great chance of going home with the championship if they win that match.
While the International Champions Cup 2019 betting odds may not even have Benfica favoured against Milan, it’s a match they are fully capable of winning. SBOBET will be eagerly awaiting whether the Portuguese champions can pull off this notable pre-season feat.
As for Fiorentina, their ICC campaign has ended with one win and two defeats. After a brief break, their pre-season will resume in August, where they have friendlies scheduled against Livorno and Galatasaray.
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