Another last gasp goal and we go down 2-1 in our first leg tie with Benfica. I’m Canadian so I might not know the rules of this crazy game as well as the rest of you folks so forgive my ignorance. Now, let me get this straight. Each team, by regulation, is allowed to field only 11 players? Do the Referee and Time Keeper not count? I could have swore Benfica had at least 13 players on the pitch at one point. What the fuck happened there? There’s going to be a party in Portugal tonight and Jonas Eriksson will be the toast of the town.
Thankfully we snatched the Holy Grail of the two legged tie when Danny Agger continued his fight for a spot up top1 with a cheeky backheel. Not sure how a defender pulls that off but little do I care. At this point we’re one up but, oh, what’s that sound? It’s the Cosmic Toilet flushing and we’re slowly spiraling down the tube. Fuck.
Ryan Babel get’s sent off after Luisao2 rapes Torres and then the real party starts. I know the Rappin’ Dutchman got in his face and might have given him a little shove but how do you figure that hatchet job3 was only worth a yellow? The ball was at a standstill and I’m both surprised and relieved that Torres wasn’t stretchered off. Ye’ Gods, is this Chelsea – Barcelona? 
A series of contentious calls, Luisao’s yellow miraculously doesn’t turn into a deserved red and a pair of penalities converted by Oscar Cordoza round out a wretched Portuguese evening. All we need now is some Rob Schnieder movies4 and an argument about Global Warming and you’ll catch a glimpse of my own personal hell. Both Insua5 and Babel are ruled out the next leg April 8th at Anfield. Babel might be easily replaceable but with Aurelio still out with whatever injury he’s coping with now, filling the left flank is going to be troublesome.
Victory isn’t out of our grasp, I’m not stupid enough to close this book off quite yet. I’m fully confident we can still take this one in front of our own fans. But the result is somewhat worrying6. All I know is that Benfica have won at Anfield before and ref willing they can do it again.
-steven.
This is what happens when your dogs are on a chain and the neighbors know it.
I didn’t get to watch the match, but just saw the highlights and wow, that was some really bad officiating. I mean, officials don’t put goals in the backs of the necks, but they do influence the game. Babel was retarded, that’s a given, but it was harsh considering the hack on Torres. I didn’t think Torres looked offside on the goal that was called back either. The crowd is throwing flares around, one almost hitting an official and they keep calling it Benfica’s way. Unbelievable.
It will be nice on the return leg to show those twats how supporters are supposed to behave.
This sucks rotten eggs. Benfica didn’t deserve to win. The most they deserved was a draw. I am quite sure I’ll miss the return leg unfortunately.
i usually refrain from criticizing the ref but it couldn’t just fly under the radar this time .. still dumbfounded by his inadequacy ..