Farense Stuns Benfica 1-0 in Taça de Portugal Clash

FARO, Portugal — Farense pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first half of their Taça de Portugal round of 16 match at Estádio de São Luís on Wednesday. The underdog Algarve side took an early lead and held firm against the reigning Primeira Liga champions.

The decisive moment came in the 7th minute when Farense’s Tomané rose above Benfica’s António Silva to head home a corner kick, sending the home crowd into raptures. The goal marked a dramatic shift in momentum after Benfica had dominated the opening minutes.

Benfica, led by manager Bruno Lage, struggled to break down Farense’s compact defense. Their best chance came in the 22nd minute when Ángel Di María’s free kick forced a sharp save from Farense goalkeeper Ricardo Velho. The Argentine’s curling effort looked destined for the top corner, but Velho’s acrobatic intervention kept his team ahead.

Farense’s defensive discipline frustrated Benfica throughout the half, with the visitors unable to create clear-cut opportunities. The home side’s midfield trio of Cláudio Neto, Miguel Menino, and Paulo Victor worked tirelessly to disrupt Benfica’s rhythm, while Tomané’s physical presence caused problems for the Benfica backline.

“It’s a huge advantage to play at home,” Farense manager Tozé Marreco said before the match. “We know the strength we have here, and in a knockout game, anything is possible.”

Benfica, who came into the match with back-to-back victories in the Allianz Cup, made several changes to their starting lineup. Samuel Soares replaced Trubin in goal, while Leandro Barreiro and Arthur Cabral were handed starts. However, the visitors lacked their usual attacking fluency, with Di María and Schjelderup struggling to make an impact.

The second half promises to be a tense affair as Benfica seeks to avoid an early exit from the competition. Farense, meanwhile, will look to capitalize on their lead and secure a historic victory against one of Portugal’s most storied clubs.