Benfica were held to a 2-2 draw by Académico de Viseu on Sunday, surrendering the lead twice in the opening round of Portugal's Primeira Liga at Estádio da Luz. The match was played behind closed doors, though fans gathered outside the stadium with smoke flares and torches to greet the team before kickoff.
Vangelis Pavlidis put Benfica ahead in the 10th minute, finishing a pass from Gianluca Prestianni with his left foot into the bottom of the net. Thousands of Benfica supporters celebrated outside the ground, since no fans were allowed inside.
Académico de Viseu, playing in the Primeira Liga for the first time in 37 years, equalized in the 55th minute when Rúben Pereira rose above Benfica's defense to head in a corner taken by Cihan Kahraman.
Prestianni restored Benfica's lead three minutes later, breaking away down the left, beating a defender and curling a shot past goalkeeper Ewerton with no chance of a save.
Viseu leveled again in the 67th minute. From a free kick taken by Robinho, André Clóvis met the ball first time in the middle of the box, exploiting a high Benfica defensive line to make it 2-2.
Near misses on both ends
Both sides had earlier chances to break the deadlock. Álvaro Zamora struck the post for Viseu in the 18th minute after a slick passing move between his teammates, and Anthony Correia was booked minutes later. Prestianni hit the post himself in the 22nd minute after a run from the middle toward the right flank.
Pavlidis then struck the crossbar in the 35th minute, after Rafa's shot deflected off a defender and fell into his path. Goalkeeper Ewerton also made saves early on to deny Pavlidis and Heorhiy Sudakov, while at the other end Samuel Soares stopped a close-range effort from André Clóvis before Viseu's opening goal.
Cards, injuries and late chances
The referee showed yellow cards to Alejandro Mestanza in the 15th minute, Anthony Correia in the 18th, Sudakov in the 25th, Tomás Araújo in first-half stoppage time, André Ceitil in the 79th minute and Igor Milioransa in second-half stoppage time.
Play was stopped several times for injuries, including to Rúben Pereira in the 43rd minute and Cihan Kahraman in the 49th. Viseu goalkeeper Ewerton needed treatment twice, in the 39th and 87th minutes.
Late in the game, Amar Dedic backheeled the ball to Dodi Lukébakio, whose shot struck the post before Ewerton parried it away with his fingertips.
The match was interrupted again deep into stoppage time when Jhon Durán, who had come on as a substitute for Prestianni, was injured moments after failing to convert a chance set up by Andreas Schjelderup.
League standings
Benfica made six substitutions during the match, bringing on Durán, Dedic, Lukébakio, Richard Ríos and Schjelderup among others, while Viseu turned to Dominik Steczyk, Cristian Ferreira, Lorougnon Gohi, Pedro Henrique Barcelos Silva and André Ceitil from the bench.
Benfica and Académico de Viseu each have one point after the opening round, level with six other clubs, including Sporting CP, who also drew 2-2 away to Estrela da Amadora on Saturday.
