Benfica, the reigning champions, faced a tough away game at Estoril. What followed was a rollercoaster of emotions, ending in a dramatic 3-3 draw. This match, part of the 7th round of the National U-15 championship’s South Series, saw the Lisbon giants lose their lead not once, but twice.
The game was a real back-and-forth affair. Estoril, playing at home, managed to take the lead. Francisco Carvalho put them ahead from the penalty spot. This gave the home team a valuable advantage at halftime.
After the break, Benfica roared to life. Lourenço Ramos and Gonçalo Tavares both found the net. They quickly turned the score around. But Estoril wasn’t finished. José Silva hit back to level things up again. The crowd was on the edge of their seats.
With the clock winding down, it looked like Benfica might steal it. Rúben Tavares scored in the 71st minute, pushing them ahead once more. The champions thought they had secured the points. However, just three minutes later, Mateus Rodrigues unleashed a thunderbolt. His stunning long-range strike found the back of the net. It sealed a dramatic 3-3 tie.
While Benfica battled to a draw, a different story unfolded elsewhere. In Barreiro, Sporting continued their impressive run. They beat their opponents 2-0. Igor Ribeiro and Capendja Silva were the heroes for the Lions. This victory kept Sporting’s perfect record intact. They haven’t dropped a single point yet.
Sporting now sits comfortably at the top of the league table. They hold a five-point lead over Benfica. For the reigning champions, these two dropped points sting. It makes their title defense a much tougher challenge.