ESTELA SILVA/LUSA
1-1 between AVS and Benfica breaks a cycle of eight consecutive victories for the “reds” in the League. Trubin postponed the goal six times, but the equalizer reached 90+4 through Devenish, in the last play of the match.
O Benfica dominated the first half and reached the break with an advantage, thanks to Amdouni goalfollowing a beautiful understanding play, but failed to extend the result and succumbed to effective pressure from the opponent in the second half.
More effective and aggressive, the AVS was superior in the second half and, in the final moments, Cristian Devenish equalized following a dead ball, inflicting a severe blow on Benfica’s ambitions.
Eagles Try to Control Nuisance AVS
The “reds” took control of ball possession (67%) from the opening whistle, putting pressure on the “avenses” in their midfield and creating the first dangerous opportunities.
The high-intensity strategy had an effect in the 17th minute, with a goal from Amdouni. The play was an example of fast and precise football: a combination in the first touch between Aursnes, Aktürkoğlu and Amdouni, culminated in a placed shot from the Swiss (0.16 xG), finding the net. The 0-1 reflected Benfica’s superiority and AVS’s inability to neutralize the red-and-black attack.
Despite Benfica’s territorial dominance, the AVS managed to balance the game in terms of actions in the opposite area (11 against 10) and in xG created (0.44 and 0.55). This reflects the creation of one or two clearer chances by AVS, on the counterattack (highlighted by Mercado), such as Zé Luís’ header (0.26 xG) in the 16th minute, the only blatant chance of the game in the first half.
Daniel orders pressure… until he draws
In the second half, AVS staged a remarkable recoverypulling off a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time against a clumsy Benfica.
Excessively dependent on the long pass (80 attempts) and resorting to dribbling (34 attempts) as a primary way of trying to attack the last third of the AVS, the “reds” were allowing the “avenses” to not only effectively enter into the discussion of the game, but also take control of the match.
Trubin postponed the goal six times but at the seventh attempt, justice in the result would eventually arrive, with the goal at 90+4 through Devenishin the last play of the match.
The Game in 5 Facts
1. Losses of the ball in the defensive third
Benfica reached a new maximum (26), ten more than its previous worst record and almost 3 times more than its average.
2. Too much individualism
The Reds’ 34 dribbling attempts are a new maximum for the team in the League, with just 38% success rate, six of the unsuccessful attempts were in their defensive third, which helped justify the negative record mentioned above.
3. Combat AVS
New maximum number of duels won by the “avenses” with 80, 28 of which were tackles, this record is also a new maximum for the team in the League. Anyone who thinks that AVS was a team stuck in its area, having achieved a new maximum of defensive actions in the opposite midfield (24), is mistaken.
4. High-risk exit
In this match the “Reds” equaled their worst record of high-risk missed passes (22), passes that allowed some of the most dangerous transition plays by the “Avenenses”.
5. No Width
New minimum number of crosses for the Reds in the League (four), less than half of the previous minimum (nine), demonstrating the little width provided by their “wingers”, Aktürkoğlu and Aursnes who always explored the interior spaces a lot, leaving the width for the ineffectiveness of Beste and Bah.
Best on the field
Trubin he postponed the “avense” goal, having prevented a goal until the fateful minute 90+4.
The Ukrainian goalkeeper ends the match with numbers more typical of a “small team” goalkeeper, as a result of the six saves he completed, interestingly with half of round 14 played, the most so far.
Summary
