On September 27, 2000, José Mourinho, then 37, played his second game as Benfica’s head coach and his first at the old Estádio da Luz.
Twenty-four and a half years later, the Special One, to some surprise and anticipation from the fans, returned to coach the Benfica team at Luz, this time against Rio Ave.
The home team dominated the first half, but the players’ lack of individual and collective creativity in the final third prevented them from opening the scoring. Without much surprise, and even with some whistles, the match went into halftime 0-0.
The second half began with the Luz team pressing high and finding it easy to break into the Rio Ave box. In the 53rd minute, António Silva crossed and Pavlidis headed the ball, drawing a tight save from goalkeeper Cezary Miszta. Moments later, the match’s controversy unfolded, with referee Sérgio Coelho being called by VAR for an alleged foul by Otamendi on Vrousai. Sérgio Coelho ruled it a foul, and António Silva goal in the 60th minute was disallowed, prompting a monumental whistle.
After trying so hard, Benfica took the lead in the 85th minute with a goal from twenty-three-year-old Ukrainian Georgiy Sudakov, and euphoria filled the stadium.
Just when everything seemed to be leading to Benfica’s second consecutive victory and their rise to second place in the league, Andre Luiz froze the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica with an unstoppable shot. The Vilacondenses team leaves Lisbon with a crucial point after two consecutive defeats, and Benfica is lagging in the chase for first place.
On a freezing night, Mourinho didn’t have a happy return home.
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