After the victory obtained last Wednesday in Vila Nova de Gaia, in a late game with CJ Almeida Garrett, Benfica returned to the lead of the competition, adding 49 points, two more than the second-placed team, Madeira SAD, and therefore went into this game well-placed to win the national title.

The differences between Benfica and Braga became clear from the very beginning and it was only in the opening minutes that there was a balance on the scoreboard (1-1, 2-2 and 3-3), because then Benfica distanced themselves and left the Braga team behind.

The 'incarnates' scored four unanswered goals after 3-3 and thus highlighted their superiority and their favoritism for this match, thus getting closer to the coveted three-time national championship.

The pace imposed by the 'incarnate' team during the first half proved to be a problem for which ABC had no solution, despite the fierce response that the Braga team always tried to give, highlighting the shooting and scoring ability of their right-back, Naide Gonçalves.

Without taking their foot off the gas, Benfica dominated and went into the break with an eight-goal advantage on the scoreboard (11-19) benefiting from the quality of their squad, their quick defense-attack transitions and their physical strength.

The second half opened with Benfica dominating and keeping their opponent at a distance, but this began to change both because of ABC's reaction, with their goalkeeper, Rita Guimarães, setting the tone with some great interventions, and because of the mistakes that the national champions made.

Naide Gonçalves, who was the game's top scorer with 10 goals, continued to be a problem for Benfica and the match ended up becoming balanced.

Benfica lost the attacking brilliance of the first half and ABC de Braga increased their production and confidence, showing themselves to be more secure in defense and also better in their attacking process.

Braga's response allowed the team to reduce the disadvantage (19-24), but Benfica had the game under control and then moved the score to a comfortable 20-28.

From then on, the 'incarnates' appeared anxious and nervous and ABC took advantage, got closer again on the scoreboard and ended up scoring more goals in the second half (14) than Benfica (10), but it was not enough to avoid defeat and prevent Benfica from celebrating the conquest of yet another national title today.

Game at the Flávio Sá Leite Pavilion, in Braga.

ABC -- Benfica, 25-29

At half-time: 11-19.

With refereeing by Dimas Carvalho and António Almeida, the teams lined up and scored:

- ABC (25): Rita Guimarães, Maria Pico (1), Maria Pinho, Maria Mirra Ferreira (1), Maria Pinto, Naide Gonçalves (10) and Margarida Cardoso (7). They also played: Inês Laranjeira (3), Ester Marques (3), Joana Pissarra and Rosa Gonçalves.

Coach: Fernando Fernandes.

- Benfica (29): Isabela Ferrarin, Maria Santos (2), Maria Unjanque (5) Constança Sequeira (4), Sabryne Sousa (1), Alexandra Shunu (3) and Ana Bolzan (5). They also played: Mihaela Minciuna (2), Mariana Costa, Adriana Lage (1), Margarida Oliveira (1), Anaa Silva (2), Joana Semedo (3), Madalena Pereira and Lea Zetovic.

Coach: João Florêncio.

Leia Também: O momento pelo qual o Sporting tanto esperou na festa frenética do título (Portuguese version)