Benfica scores three goals in six minutes to beat Farense 3-1 at the Taça de Portugal

Benfica qualified for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup after beating Farense 3-1 at the São Lúis Stadium.

Ángel Di María came close in the first 60 seconds, but it was the hosts who took the lead in the 7th minute, from a Mehdi Merghem cross headed by Tomané.

The Eagles equalized in the 56th minute when the in-form Andreas Schjelderup shot past Ricardo Velho. Two minutes later, they took the lead thanks to a deep cross from Álvaro Carreras which found Arthur Cabral who found the net.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 62nd minute after patient preparation. Cabral’s point-blank shot was saved by Velho before Alexander Bah pounced and slotted the ball under the goalkeeper.

Benfica will host the winner of the round of 16 which will see Braga host Campeonato de Portugal club Lusitano Évora.

Benfica went close in the first minute when Andreas Schjelderup’s cross found Ángel Di María, his volley narrowly missing the top corner.

Schjelderup was heavily involved on the left wing and early signs were that the Eagles were taking the lead. Farense had other ideas and opened the scoring in the 6th minute.

It was a routine goal with Mehdi Merghem sending a corner into the danger zone, Tomané beating António Silva and past Samuel Soares.

Neto was injured and replaced by Saruca. Di María then suffered a knock and gave way to Zeki Amdouni.

Farense had a positive start to the second half, coming closest to doubling their advantage when Andre Seruca’s deflected shot was palmed away by Soares.

Benfica weathered the storm and equalized in the 56th minute. Leandro Barreiro advanced and found Schjelderup, the 20-year-old cutting into Raul Silva and shooting past Ricardo Velho.

Two minutes later the score was 2-1 after a long run from Álvaro Carreras. The left-back sent a deep cross to Tomás Ribeiro who picked out Arthur Cabral, the Brazilian shooting past Velho from a tight angle.

The comeback was complete in the 62nd minute when Cabral’s shot was saved, with Alexander Bah quicker to reach than Ribeiro before drilling the ball under Velho.

Tozé Marreco wasted no time in reshuffling his leading trio with the entry of Elves Baldé, Jaime Pinto and Darío Poveda.

It made little difference as Benfica controlled the match and closed it out, with Adrian Bajrami coming off the bench late to make his first-team debut.

Benfica will host the winner of tomorrow’s Braga-Lusitano Évora clash in the quarter-finals, with the winner facing Elvas or Tirsense – two 4th division teams – in the semi-final.