Roller hockey fans are in for a treat this Sunday. The women’s Elite Cup final will see a familiar clash. Benfica and Sanjoanense are set to play again. This match is a repeat of last year’s championship game. Benfica aims to keep its perfect record alive. Sanjoanense seeks to upset the reigning champions.
Both teams earned their spot in the final with strong semi-final wins. Benfica crushed Tojal with an astounding 17-3 scoreline. Their offensive power was on full display. Maria Sofia Silva led the charge with four goals. Sara Roces and Inês Severino each added three. Leonor Coelho and Marlene Sousa netted two goals apiece. Rita Batista, Aimée Blachman, and Raquel Santos also scored once.
Tojal’s goals came from Matilde Granadas, Ana Catarina Gregório, and Tatiana Olhicos. Their team is now coached by Maca Ramos. Ramos is a Chilean player who used to play for Benfica. Still, Tojal couldn’t match Benfica’s strength. The “Eagles” have been unstoppable in this competition.
Benfica holds an incredible record in the Elite Cup. They have won every single edition so far. Coach Paulo Almeida’s team lifted the trophy three times already. In 2022/23, they beat CACO 6-1. The next year, 2023/24, saw them defeat Turquel 5-2. Last season, 2024/25, they overcame Sanjoanense 5-3. Now, they face Sanjoanense once more for this year’s title.
Sanjoanense secured their place in Sunday’s final with a 2-0 victory. They played against their close rivals, Escola Livre de Azeméis. Sofia Reyes and Martina Sad scored the two crucial goals for Sanjoanense. Their solid defense kept Escola Livre scoreless. This performance shows they are ready for the big game.
The final starts at 3:00 PM. It will take place at the Odivelas Multipurpose Pavilion. For those who can’t be there, the game will be streamed live. You can watch all the action on Record’s website. It promises to be an exciting end to the Elite Cup tournament.
Sanjoanense defeated Escola Livre
