The Red Team hosted Aguas Santas, defeating the local team with a score of (31-27) in the opening match in the eighth round of the Blackard Handball Championship 1.

We already know that it’s not easy to face Aguas Santas in Mayata Castle! Let four-time national champion FC Porto say that, which this season has never gone beyond a draw (to 32 goals). But Benfica, despite a shaky start to the Placard Handebol 1 tournament – four wins, one draw and two defeats – went to the Aguas Santas Pavilion on Friday night and won by four goals, 31-27, in the opening match of the eighth round and broadcast live on BOLA TV.

The first 30 minutes were crucial to the success of the Reds, who did not start well and let the local team lead…in the first phase. After 3-1, a partial score of 0-4 pushed the Reds into the lead, a place they never left until the end.

Benfica’s performance was thriving in the first half – 3-5, 5-9, 6-12, 7-15 and 10-18, the half-time score – but in the second half came the (natural) reaction of the hosts, which, however, they did not question. Everlasting success for the Reds.

With four goals each, Yoav Lombroso and Petar Djurdjic were Benfica’s top scorers, but the best in the match was the host Manuel Lima with 8 goals.

The eighth round concludes on Saturday with the following matches: ABC-FC Porto (5 p.m.), Marítimo-V. Guimarães (5 p.m.), Belenenses-Bovoa (6 p.m.), V. Setubal-Avanca (6pm), Sporting-FC Gaia (6.30pm).

After Friday night’s result, Benfica are third on 19 points – Sporting have 21 and Porto 20 – while Aguas Santas are fifth on 16 points.