BENFICA 3-0 V.SETUBAL
Goals: Katsouranis, Cardozo, Nuno Gomes
Sunday 11 May 2008
Despite Benfica's 3-0 win over Setúbal in what was an emotional sending off for Rui Costa, the Lisbon side will have to be content with the UEFA Cup next season as they finished 4th in league.
A near full stadium greeted Rui Costa's last appearance as a professional football player before the game kicked-off, a huge banner saying 'thank-you' to the «maestro» covered the central seating are of Estádio da Luz.
Benfica started the match well looking comfortable on the ball, knowing they had to win if they wanted to have any hopes of qualify for the Champions League, depending on the outcome of Sporting's and Guimarães', as it was not in their hands.
Despite this uncertainty, the home side had good early chances and Nuno Gomes had the ball behind the net on the 22nd minute, but was rightly ruled out after Cardozo's flick on played him offside.
Benfica kept pressuring and it paid off a couple of minutes later when Katsouranis got a light touch with his head from Rui Costa's cross to guide the ball to the far post. As things stood, Benfica were heading out in a third place finish. The lead was doubled by the top scorer Cardozo on the 38th minute, who unleashed a left-footed strike after being set up by Rui Costa. Just before the half, Nélson injured himself after an effort on goal and was stretchered off, promptly subbed by Maxi Pereira who would only appear in the second-half.
With Guimarães and Sporting in the lead, there was little left to play for, apart from Rui Costa's final match. The veteran midfielder received an imperious standing ovation from the whole stadium as he was substituted with a few minutes to go, and was braced by every colleague on and off the field.
This surge of emotion led to a third goal, and a much needed one for Nuno Gomes, who had missed a hefty number of chances during the game. Di María wriggled away on the byline to create the chance and it fell for Cardozo, who saw his rebound fall straight to Nuno Gomes.
A disappointing season comes to an end as Benfica finish outside the top three, and only qualify to the UEFA Cup, seeing Guimarães breaking the traditional league finish.
RUI COSTA 
What a final game....
