11.15am 10 November 2019
Portugal, Segunda Liga
Penafiel 1 Benfica B 1 (att 507)
I thought Penafiel might be a sleepy place on a Sunday morning but we arrived to find it was buzzing.
Not that the locals were excited by the visit of Benfica's reserve side. Instead it was some sort of wine festival that had people up and about, and arriving by the coachload.
While they began their day of wine appreciation, we joined 500 or so more sober individuals at the local football stadium for a second division game. It's a classic old-school ground, with a large stand on one side and three shallower stands opposite.
One end is undeveloped but behind the other goal is the away end, consisting of uncovered seats. Three Benfica fans stood there in the rain, man-marked throughout by a trio of police.
Benfica's youngsters went ahead but Penafiel equalised in a lively first half. The second period was mediocre by comparison, and I imagine only the most committed armchair football fans would have stayed tuned to the live TV coverage until the final whistle.
Portugal, Segunda Liga
Penafiel 1 Benfica B 1 (att 507)
I thought Penafiel might be a sleepy place on a Sunday morning but we arrived to find it was buzzing.
Not that the locals were excited by the visit of Benfica's reserve side. Instead it was some sort of wine festival that had people up and about, and arriving by the coachload.
While they began their day of wine appreciation, we joined 500 or so more sober individuals at the local football stadium for a second division game. It's a classic old-school ground, with a large stand on one side and three shallower stands opposite.
One end is undeveloped but behind the other goal is the away end, consisting of uncovered seats. Three Benfica fans stood there in the rain, man-marked throughout by a trio of police.
Benfica's youngsters went ahead but Penafiel equalised in a lively first half. The second period was mediocre by comparison, and I imagine only the most committed armchair football fans would have stayed tuned to the live TV coverage until the final whistle.
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