It took extra time to find the first finalist of the WSE Champions League 2024/25. FC Porto decided on the details and, following a great game of rink hockey, are through to Sunday’s final. The Portistas are in their 16th final and will be going for their fourth trophy in the competition.
The classic between SL Benfica and FC Porto was a clear example of a tactical and strategic game. Two great teams on stage, a place in the final up for grabs, a great atmosphere in the pavilion. Every detail counted. It therefore came down to extra time to decide the first finalist in the WSE Champions League 2024/25. And at the moment of truth, Carlo di Benedetto had the coolness to put the dragons in the final.
In an all-or-nothing game, where the famous “mata mata” prevails, it was important to be agile in attack and focused defensively. Every detail would be decisive. It was therefore a very tactical game during the first half. SL Benfica defended well and took the lead through Roberto Benedetto (11′) assisted by Gonçalo Pinto. Five minutes later, FC Porto equalised through Ezequiel Mena (16′) taking advantage of a rebound. In an intense and very tactical match, the score was level at half-time.
On the way back, the players were nervous and only took the right chances. The goalkeepers stood out, until Rafa (33′) scored the second goal for the portistas with a shot from distance that sent the blue-clad crowd into a frenzy. In the 38th minute, João Rodrigues shot wide from a penalty and SL Benfica seemed to have no way past FC Porto’s well-organised defence. It took another shot from almost midfield for José Miranda (40′) to restore the 2-2 draw. Tactical strategies became more pronounced, and defending well was the main weapon for both teams, so the score remained unchanged in regulation time.
The first half of extra time brought nothing new, just a lot of hard work and sweat from all the players. Nobody wanted to make a mistake. Then, 2 minutes from the end of extra time, Carlo di Benedetto scored the decisive goal to put FC Porto into the final.
Rafa Costa (FC Porto Fidelidade) and Zè Miranda (SL Benfica) – Credit photo: World Skate Europe
Carlo Di Benedetto, the match-winner of the Semifinal – Credit Photo. World Skate Europe
Statements from the coaches:
CASTRO Edu, SL Benfica coach
“I’d like to congratulate FC Porto on reaching the final. It was a very even game between two great teams, with players of great quality. I had already warned them that the game would be decided on the details and that’s what happened, unfortunately they weren’t in our favour. We may think we were better, with more control at times, but the result is what counts. It’s hard to analyse this defeat, but we still have goals to strive for and now the responsibility is greater.”
ARES Ricardo, FC Porto coach
“It was a great game. There were moments when we were superior, we could have scored more goals when we had a numerical advantage, but Benfica have an extraordinary team. We suffered, there was a lot of balance, we defended better individually. In a semi-final, the game was going to be decided on details, and we deserved to be in the final.”
Statements from the players:
PINTO Gonçalo, SL Benfica player
“The result is ungrateful. I honestly don’t think anyone deserved to lose. We played a great game, but so did FC Porto. Maybe it would have been fairer to go to the final and whoever won would have been the winner. But it fell to FC Porto. We’re sad, we’ll pick ourselves up and we’ve got a league to win.”
BENEDETTO Carlo, FC Porto player
“Our fans deserve everything and this season has been very difficult for us. To see the stands full is incredible. We showed that we deserved that support and that we wanted to win, we didn’t just come to beat SL Benfica, we came to win the cup and we’re going to give everything to win it. We were up against a great team and it was incredible how the game went, they played very well but we were also very focused, we drew energy from everything to win and go through to the final.
”
Semi-final 1 of the WSE Champions League Final Four 2024/2025
Saturday, 10 May 2025 + 12h00 + Centro de Desportos e Congressos de Matosinhos
Referees: FERNANDEZ Ruben and VILLAR Daniel
SL BENFICA, 2 FC Porto, 3*
1 HENRIQUES Pedro 1 MALIÁN Xavi
3 MIRANDA José, 2-2 (40’) 6 LAMAS Edu
8 BARGALLO Pau 9 COSTA José ‘Rafa’, 1-2 (33’)
24 ROCA Nil 19 BENEDETTO Carlo, 2-3 (58’)
779 RODRIGUES João 77 ALVES Gonçalo ©
12 MENDES Rui 24 PAIS Leonardo
04 RAFAEL Diogo © 4 SANTOS Tomás
09 ORDOÑEZ Lucas 7 MENA Ezequiel 1-1 (16’)
68 BENEDETTO Roberto, 1-0 (11’) 78 NUNES Hélder
71 PINTO Gonçalo 88 BARATA Diogo
Tr. CASTRO Edu Tr. ARES Ricardo
* after extra time
World Skate Europe Champions League 2024/2025 Final Four Schedule:
– Saturday, May 10
Semi-final 2, at 12:00 (GMT+1): SL BENFICA – FC PORTO FIDELIDADE = 2-3 after overtimes
Semi-final 1, at 15:30 (GMT+1):: OC BARCELOS – CE NOIA FREIXENET
Live TV: DAZN, Esport3 (Spain) | Live Streaming – WSETV | Media Kit
– Sunday, May 11
Final, at 16:00 (GMT+1): Winner of semi-final 1 – FC PORTO FIDELIDADE
Live TV: DAZN. é | Live Streaming – WSETV
