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Cenk Tosun has arrived. He’s match fit, so I’ll toss him on the bench for the match on the 31st. If he works out, then yay! If not, I can go elsewhere, it’s risk free.
Can we do anything in today’s home match vs Benfica? I begin defensive. Keep up where you left off! They have some early pressure, but it ebbs a bit, so I move to counter in the 9th. Skolnik finds an intercepted pass in a busy penalty area, slides the ball to Rondon who scores in the 15th minute. They score off a corner in the 24th to take us back. Then on a break away, Skolnik cross heavily to Candeais who drove and scores. We are back up 2-1 in the 33rd. Looking good folks! I order us to defensive again, but it doesn’t keep Benfica from scoring of a nasty rifled shot from just outside the box by their striker. Half time sees it all knotted up I tell them that they want revenge – it seems to really fire them up. Candeais makes an ugly cross in the 59th minute, one that is actually a shot on target, and the GK pushes it away, it is headed out of the box by a defender right to Skolnik, who puts it in from a tight angle. We are up 3-2. Matias has not been playing well, and neither Djaniny. I pull Matias for Javi and DJ for Cenk Tosun in the 63rd. A Candeais goal in the 64th is called offsides. I order harder tackling. They change to a 4-1-2-1-2. Daniel C is injured and I pull him off for Hernani Costa, whom I move ot DR and move Aurelio up. They get two yellows in the mid-70s, looking a bit off. I’ve been on counter for most of the game, but I slide back to defensive on the 85th. We must protect this house. Skolnik picked up a knock in extra time, but I have no subs left to yank him with. Can we hold on for a win against Benfica? Yes we can! Close. MOM is Skolnik.
Skolnik is out for two weeks with a damaged elbow. Daniel is fine though. We beat Benfica. This is a major game. We beat Sporting earlier. And then we turned around and got clocked by Porto 0-4.
I sign a youther who can speak German. He’s not that great.
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