Benfica beat Sporting 4-1 in the Luz derby and go top of the Women's Primeira Liga

A derby settled before half-time

Benfica beat Sporting 4-1 at the Estádio da Luz on Saturday, 24 October, in matchday 5 of the Primeira Liga Feminina. Ana Dias gave the visitors the lead in the fifth minute, striking from outside the box after a pass from Carla Armengol. Nycole Raysla levelled in the 11th minute, getting in behind Ágata Filipa and finishing with her left foot. Anna Csiki put the hosts ahead in the 31st minute after a scramble in the penalty area, and Raysla headed in a third goal in the 41st minute, with Marit Lund credited with the assist.

Benfica in control, Sporting dangerous on the break

Sporting had their moments, especially on the counter. Telma Encarnação was found alone in the area after a long pass in the 12th minute, but Lena Pauels came off her line to save. Ruby Grant struck the post from distance in the 24th minute. Benfica dominated the rest of the match, and the Sporting goalkeeper stopped Anna Csiki's long-range shot in the 41st minute, which came close to going in.

Second half and Norton's late finish

Sporting kept pressing after the interval, and Beatriz Cameirão's shot in the 57th minute was blocked by Lena Pauels, who threw her body against the post. Benfica kept control and added a late goal through Andreia Norton. Norton finished a cross from the right flank, and the sources give the timing as the 88th minute in one report and the 89th in another. One account credits Diana Gomes with the assist. The score finished 4-1, with Benfica ahead for the whole of the second half.

Words before the match

Before kick-off both coaches spoke about the derby. Ivan Baptista, Benfica's coach, pointed to a week with four training sessions and said consistency across the season mattered more than early places at the top of the table.

“Taking the lead in the third or fourth round is not the most important thing. What matters is winning round after round.”

Micael Sequeira, Sporting's coach, brushed off remarks by Ivan Baptista about pressure around Benfica's title hopes, which Baptista linked to Sporting's long wait for a women's league title. Sequeira said he had only just heard the comments and promised a strong answer on the pitch.

“Honestly, I had not heard it. They told me just before I came into the press room. But I have no comment, it is a statement by the coach.”

What the result changes in the table

Benfica moved to the top of the Primeira Liga Feminina with this win. Observador counted four wins and two draws in six games for the club this season. Sporting had threatened Benfica's 923-day unbeaten run in the league, but the run continued after the final whistle. The result leaves the title race tight, with the second place still at stake in the reports' framing of the season.