Sunday, October 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Benfica Campus , Seixal
TV: fuboTV, Benfica TV INT., Benfica TV, ZAP
Reko 70' (P)
R. Alcaina 74'
M. Ndembi 1'
L. Santos 39'
O. Tome 50'
T. Parente 64'
T. Parente 67'
R. Alcaina 42'
T. Parente 67'
Full time

Penafiel Punish Ten-Man Benfica B in Fiery Segunda Liga Contest

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SEIXAL, Portugal — Under ominous skies at Benfica Campus, Penafiel seized control of a tense, ill-tempered match with two late goals to defeat Benfica B 2-0, capitalizing on a pivotal red card to ease their own relegation worries and complicate those of their hosts.

It was a contest that simmered with tension from the opening whistle — and ultimately boiled over midway through the second half. Until that point, both sides struggled to impose themselves, their ambitions tempered by nerves and the weight of their positions just above the relegation zone in the Liga Portugal 2 standings.

Early Intensity and Frustration

From the outset, Benfica B demonstrated the youthful exuberance — and inexperience — characteristic of a developmental side. Michée Ndembi went into the referee’s book after less than a minute, an early harbinger of the discipline problems that would cost the hosts later. The first half was marked by fractured play, neither team managing to settle or string together meaningful attacks. Penafiel looked content to soak up pressure and probe for moments of defensive instability, while Benfica B, marshaled by Leandro Santos and Tiago Parente at the back, were forced into uncomfortable clearances under pressure.

Yellow cards for Leandro Santos (39’) and Penafiel forward Raul Alcaina (42’) only added to the spiky tone, as both teams struggled to create clear openings amid frequent stoppages and uncompromising challenges.

Turning Point: Parente Sees Red

The game’s decisive moment arrived just after the hour mark. With Benfica B showing fleeting promise following a trio of substitutions aiming to inject energy and control into midfield, disaster struck. Tiago Parente received his first yellow card in the 64th minute, and barely three minutes later, a rash challenge from the Benfica defender prompted a straight red. Benfica B, already laboring to create chances, now faced the daunting prospect of playing out the final 20 minutes with ten men.

Penafiel’s response was swift and clinical. Just three minutes after the dismissal, João Reko coolly converted a penalty (70’), sending Benfica B goalkeeper Ricardo Dias Ribeiro the wrong way. The visitors’ bench erupted; the goal was as much a release of tension as a statement of intent.

Alcaina Delivers the Knockout Blow

Sensing a vulnerable opponent and eager to kill off the contest, Penafiel pressed forward. The pressure paid off just four minutes after the opener. This time it was Alcaina, the energetic forward, who found the net — the move initiated from midfield and finishing with precise attacking movement that carved open the depleted Benfica B defense.

With a two-goal cushion, Penafiel managed the remainder of the match with professionalism. Substitutions from both managers brought fresh legs but did little to alter the contest’s outcome or rhythm; Benfica B, despite late changes, could not muster a response. The hosts looked deflated, their frustration compounded by their inability to regain composure after Parente’s expulsion.

Broader Implications

For Penafiel, the victory provided not only three valuable points but also a rare sense of momentum. Having started the day just one position above Benfica B in the standings, they leapfrog their rivals and momentarily distance themselves from the relegation shootout. Bruno Pereira and Francisco Ferreira, marshaling a resolute three-man defense, were particularly impressive in withstanding any threat from Benfica B’s pacey frontline.

Benfica B, by contrast, must reckon with an afternoon of squandered discipline and missed opportunity. Managerial staff will likely rue the combination of youthful overexuberance and inexperience that led to four yellow cards and a critical red, undermining any hopes of salvaging a draw.

As the final whistle sounded, the mood at Benfica Campus was somber. A day that began with hope ended in disappointment, the sting of defeat made more acute by the knowledge that discipline and decision-making — as much as talent — determine outcomes in the unforgiving grind of Liga Portugal 2.

Penafiel will savor their hard-earned victory, a result that may well be remembered as a turning point in their campaign. For Benfica B, hard lessons await in the coming week — for in this league, there is no margin for error, and no hiding from costly lapses in composure.

Team Lineups

Benfica B
4-3-3
COACH
Unknown
98
Ricardo Dias Ribeiro
89
Tiago Parente
69
Michée Ndembi
71
Leandro Santos
77
Gonçalo Moreira
86
Diogo Prioste
74
Olívio Tomé
96
Jelani Trevisan Dumas
67
Rodrigo Rego
Penafiel
3-5-2
COACH
Unknown
32
Joan Femenías
33
Cláudio Silva
4
João Miguel
22
Francisco Ferreira
14
Bruno Pereira
8
Reko
88
Ruben Alves
21
Pedro Sá
27
Goncalo Negrao
20
Álvaro Santos
19
Raul Alcaina

Benfica B Substitutes

54 Francisco Neto
M
73 Miguel Figueiredo
M
85 Martim Ferreira
M
88 Tiago Freitas
M
91 Francisco Silva
F
97 José Melro
F
99 Eduardo Fernandes
F

Penafiel Substitutes

3 Gustavo Fernandes
D
7 Pedro Vieira
F
10 Jota Silva
F
16 Meireles Injai
D
17 Ibrahima Kébé
M
31 Manuel Baldé
G
37 Davo
M
75 Teddy Alloh
D
95 Joseph Sery
F

Match Statistics

3
Yellow Cards
1