Awkward Portugal: Covid-hit nine-man Belenenses underdogs face giants Benfica
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Reading Time: 1min | Sun. 28.11.21. | 00:20
Yes, 9 players including two goalkeepers. They have been hit by COVID and couldn't field a full team. The match was abandoned shortly after half-time, with 7-0 on the scoreboard
Unbelievable scenes in Portugal!
Lisbon-based greats Benfica are favourites to regain the championship accolades but their job has been made much easier tonight, as they faced nine-man Belenenses.
A nossa equipa 🏰#TorresdeBelem #LigaPortugal #Futebol pic.twitter.com/0B8KiMBYZt
— Belenenses Futebol SAD (@OsBelenensesSAD) November 27, 2021
The underdogs are heavily hit by coronavirus - many of their players are sick, the others are isolated so they couldn't field a full team. It remains inexplicable why the Portuguese league authorities didn't allow them to postpone the fixture.
So Belenses put two keepers in the starting XI, or to be accurate, starting IX, with their most experienced player being only 24.
Belenenses SAD’s 9, by order of age:
— Próxima Jornada (@ProximaJornada1) November 27, 2021
Henrique Pires (19)
João Monteiro (20)
André Lopes (20)
Antonio Montez (20)
Trova Boni (21)
Eduardo Kau (22)
Álvaro Ramalho (22)
Diogo Calila (23)
Rafael Santos (24)
Moreover, the game started awfully for them, as Kau scored an unintentional own goal 25 seconds into the game.
Of course, Benfica were comfortable with such an advantage on the pitch and poured six more before the half-time break (7-0). The match was abandoned only three minutes into the second half, since Belenenses was left with only six players in the field, because three of their players got injured during the game.
Awkward, bizarre, ludicrous... There are many ways and words to describe this confusing night of Portuguese football.
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