Di Maria fait plier le TFC : une défaite cuisante pour le Toulouse FC
TFC falters against Benfica but shows promise in Europa League clash
In their first leg clash of the Europa League round of 16 against Benfica, Toulouse FC put up a valiant fight but ultimately succumbed to a last-minute defeat with a score of 2-1. Despite the loss, the Violets displayed a commendable performance in their European outing. However, a brace from the evergreen Angel Di Maria, both from penalties, crushed the hopes of the visiting team to secure a positive result in Lisbon. In a week’s time, Carles Martinez Novell’s men will have the opportunity to seek revenge and continue their adventure in the competition as they face Benfica on home turf.
Some will see this as an opportunity for Toulouse to gain invaluable experience on the European front, while others may attribute their loss to a lack of composure in crucial moments of the game. Regardless of how this defeat is analyzed, one thing remains unchanged – the winners of the 2022-2023 French Cup will have to overcome a deficit of more than one goal in order to qualify for the Europa League round of 16. Struggling in their domestic league, Toulouse were determined to make a mark at the renowned Estadio da Luz. At the end of the first half, both teams were deadlocked at a goalless draw.
However, the Lisbon side created numerous opportunities towards the end of the first half. Rafa Silva posed a constant threat, with Guillaume Restes being tested on multiple occasions (35th, 38th min), but the crossbar denied his final attempt. Joao Mario also came close, leaving Restes rooted to the spot, but his shot narrowly missed the target (45th min). Upon resumption, Benfica continued to apply pressure and were rewarded with a generous penalty decision following a handball from Logan Costa. Coolly, Di Maria struck the ball to open the scoring (68th min, 1-0).
Despite being under pressure and on the verge of conceding a second goal from an Arthur Cabral attempt (72nd min), Toulouse did not lose hope. Seizing an opportunity, Mikkel Desler rewarded the collective efforts with a volley from the second post that beat Anatoliï Troubine (75th min, 1-1). Struggling in the dying minutes, Toulouse ultimately buckled in the seemingly endless stoppage time as Christian Mawissa Elebi conceded a second penalty, which Di Maria calmly converted (98th min, 2-1). Following his hat-trick against Nantes last season, the Argentine World Cup champion has once again made his mark against French clubs, even when far from the confines of Ligue 1.
While Toulouse may have narrowly missed out on a favorable result, their performance against Benfica indicates promise and resilience. They will need to channel this mindset in their upcoming home leg to stand a chance of progressing to the next round. With the support of their home crowd, the Violets will aim to overcome the deficit and continue their European campaign.
