JEEPERS KEEPERS
Football fans are used to seeing a goalkeeper charge upfield for a set piece in the last few minutes of a game. Jan Tomaszewski, the Polish “clown” who denied England a place at the 1974 World Cup, may have been the first to do so, and it has become normalised in the 21st century. On Wednesday in Lisbon, there was a new twist on an old tactic. In the 98th minute, Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin legged it upfield – at a time when his team were leading Real Madrid.
José Mourinho’s Benfica were 3-2 up but needed another goal to move above Marseille and into the promised land: the top 24 of the new Bigger Cup, which comes with a playoff place. Trubin planted a superb downward header past Thibaut Courtois – Roy Race couldn’t have done it better – and set off on a celebration whose memory will act as instant serotonin for the rest of his life. Trubin joined Benfica from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2023, a year after the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, and dedicated the goal to his country. “For Ukraine,” he said. “For those who know how to fight till the end.”
The goal means that Benfica will face one of Mourinho’s old clubs in the playoff round: either Real Madrid (again) or Inter. A few minutes beforehand, Mourinho made two defensive substitutions after being wrongly told a 3-2 win was enough for Benfica. At least nobody kept the ball in the corner like poor Steve Lomas when Manchester City were relegated in 1995-96. “A few seconds later, then they tell me we need one more goal, but I cannot make more changes,” tooted Mourinho. “That was the lucky point, to get the free-kick, to allow us to go there with the big guy [Trubin].”
The big guy lit up Bigger Cup with the biggest goal of the night – and probably of the entire league stage since the new Swiss model was introduced last season. With 18 matches being played simultaneously, the permutations seemed to change every 30 seconds. Trubin also wasn’t sure what his team needed – at least until he was waved forward for the free-kick by Mourinho and his teammates. “So I went up, went into the box, and I don’t know … I don’t know what to say,” he hooted. “Crazy moment. I’m not used to scoring. I’m 24 years old and it’s the first time. Unbelievable.”
Trubin’s goal – and a late winner for Sporting that lifted them into the top eight at Madrid’s expense – enriched what had otherwise been a frantic but relatively predictable night. Five English clubs finished in the top eight; the other, Newcastle, slipped out of the automatic qualification places with honour after drawing away to PSG. The Italian champions Napoli, who lost 3-2 at home to Chelsea, were the most high-profile team to be eliminated. The draw for the rest of the tournament takes place in Nyon on Friday. We’re getting ahead of ourselves – that’s what draw brackets are for – but if the playoffs go with seeding, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle will face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16. And Manchester City would meet either Real Madrid (for the fifth season in a row) or Inter. But Mourinho – and the big guy – will have other ideas about that.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Unsporting conduct of their players and technical staff in violation of the Caf disciplinary code principles of fair play, loyalty and integrity” – one of the reasons given for Senegal’s post-Afcon punishment, with coach Pape Thiaw banned for five games – which only apply to Caf-organised games and will not impact on Geopolitics World Cup preparations – and fined $100,000 for “unsporting conduct” after he told his players to leave the pitch during the final against hosts Morocco. Caf also hit Senegal’s federation with a $615,000 fine, while two players from each side were also suspended. Ultimately, though, the important note to take from Caf’s statement is that Morocco’s bid to overturn the result has been dismissed.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
I am writing all the way from the USA USA USA, where we know a thing or two about peace prizes, to enlist your support in a new award to recognise a former Fifa president’s sudden and shocking bout of moral clarity. It’s just a shame that the late, great Robin Williams won’t be a part of it” – Pete Woody.
Watching Green Street (or Green Street Hooligans as it’s known in some parts of the world) started Adama Traoré’s fondness for all things West Ham (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition)? This has got me wondering if any young footballers watched Reece Dinsdale, Sean Pertwee and Warren Clarke battle it out in 1995’s hooligan epic ID, and grew up wanting to pull on the famous yellow and black shirts of Shadwell Town, aka The Dogs” – Tim Grey.
I wonder if the increase in Match of the Day viewing figures (yesterday’s News, Bits and Bobs, full email edition) is down to the Watch Your Team option on the iPlayer? Enabling me to completely avoid the soul-sapping dreariness of Danny Mills’ polo shirts and Micah Richards’ detailed tactical analysis (‘yeah, he had a good game, he played really well’) is, in my opinion, probably the best thing the BBC have done” – Alistair Jackson.
It must have been a different Barry Bannan who made 85 appearances in the Premier League, if this one deserves a chance to reach the ‘promised land’ (yesterday’s Football Daily letters)” – Michael Hann (and others).
If you have any, please send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Pete Woody. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, are here.
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