Benfica's Rising Stars Secure 2-0 Cup Win Over Farense, Porto Awaits

The train to the business end of the Taça de Portugal is getting crowded, and Benfica have found a seat in style. An early strike, a moment of South-American flair after the break and a penalty that never mattered were enough to quiet Faro and line up a January clássico.

Snapshot from the Algarve

• Result: Farense 0-2 Benfica

• Scorers: Richard Ríos 11’, Franjo Ivanovic 56’

• Penalty saved: Otamendi 28’

• Benfica reach the quarter-finals for a 4th straight season

• Await FC Porto after the Dragons eliminated Famalicão

Benfica’s bench delivers the punch

With João Mário and Rafa given the night off, José Mourinho trusted the less-used legs of the squad. The bet paid dividends: Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos rifled home from the edge of the area before most of the 19 000 spectators had settled, and Croatian prodigy Franjo Ivanovic doubled the lead by chest-controlling a floated cross and finishing on the spin. The two goals highlighted the depth that has eluded the encarnados in recent seasons and allowed the coaching staff to rotate without fear.

Mourinho’s verdict: satisfaction laced with caution

The coach praised “the hunger shown by the kids” yet reminded reporters that “January will ask for even more.” He singled out Manu Silva for a 90-minute return to the starting XI and hinted that the winter transfer window may remain closed if the academy keeps answering. That tune is notably warmer than his October complaints about commitment in cup fixtures.

Farense bow out with heads high

Silas fielded a patched-up eleven, rotating to survive a congested calendar, but his side were far from passengers. Farense thought they had equalised through Bruno Duarte only for the assistant to raise the flag. “We were never an easy prey,” the coach insisted, calling the offside call “harsh but not scandalous.” The Algarve club now channels its energy into staying above the Liga relegation line.

Clouds over the infirmary

Victory came at a cost. Goalkeeper Samuel Soares limped off with a right-thigh complaint at half-time, and playmaker Georgiy Sudakov suffered a painful contusion that leaves him doubtful for Sunday’s league visit to Famalicão. Both ailments join Leandro Barreiro’s ankle knock on the medical chart, trimming Mourinho’s options before the looming quarter-final duel in Porto.

Why this matters for fans in Portugal

A Benfica-Porto tie in mid-January guarantees prime-time cup drama barely a month after their Liga clash.

The águias are chasing a trophy they have not lifted since 2017, a drought that irks the Estádio da Luz faithful.

Rotation success tonight hints at fresh competition for starting spots, which could spice up the title race after the Christmas break.

Quick glance at the numbers

| Category | Farense | Benfica || --- | --- | --- || Shots (on target) | 8 (3) | 14 (7) || Possession | 44 % | 56 % || Pass accuracy | 82 % | 87 % || Corners | 5 | 6 || Fouls | 15 | 13 |

The road ahead

The quarter-final draw locked in a trip to the north. Benfica will walk into the Dragão on 14 January knowing that a single match separates them from another visit to Jamor. Whether Sudakov recovers or not, the test will reveal if the Lisbon giants’ renewed depth is real or merely Algarve sunshine.