The women’s handball team benfica secured this Saturday, January 28, a place in the quarterfinals of the Portuguese Cup. The team coached by João Alexandre Florêncio trained until Marinha Grande, where they beat SIR 1.º de Maio, by 16-21, in a round of 16 meeting of the competition.

In defense of the trophy won last season, Benfica entered the pavilion of the Nery Capucho School, decided to guarantee a place in the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup.

João Alexandre Florêncio made two changes to the starting lineuptaking into account the match with the porch (counting for the FAP Cup), called Mihaela Minciuna and Ana Bolzan for the title, placing, this time, Mariana Costa and Alina Molkova as substitutes.

Against the current 6th place in the National Championship, an opponent that the reds had already beaten, by 26-36, in a game of the 12th round of the competition, Benfica was always in charge of operations.

After a balanced game, in which SIR 1.º de Maio managed to pose some difficulties, the reds improved in the defensive process and ended the 1st half winning by 8-13.

In the second half there was a slight reaction from the home team that, losing by 11-18, managed to reduce the incompetence to five goals difference. After a time delay requested by the Benfica coach, the national champions returned to scoring and controlled the match until the end, winning by 16-21.

Viktoriya Borschchenko and Maria Unjanquewith five goals each, were the best scorers of the incarnates.

Qualified for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, the national champions will compete again on February 4, at 6 pm, at the Pavilhão da Escola Secundária Gil Eanes, where they will face the local sports club, in a match for the 12th round of the Championship National.