Eusebio: The Passing of a Legend

Portugal legend Eusebio passed away Sunday at the age of 71 (Yahoo Sports)

I admit to feeling old a lot of the time, but there are times when I feel too young as well, particularly when it comes to being a soccer fan.  I say that because I never got to see so many of the legends of the game live, even on TV.  This is a particularly sad case with legendary Portuguese attacker Eusebio, who played in his final games for the New Jersey Americans of the old ASL the year after I was born.

It's fitting that as I return to the blog to start 2014 that I pay tribute to this legend.  But what do I say?  I've never seen him play except on video clips.  I could rehash and summarize the feelings of a million news stories and blogs from around the internet, but you've all read those if you care to.  

I want to use the occasion of the passing of this great man as a reason to reflect on the heritage that the game of football, or soccer if you prefer, leaves us.  Many sports have a long history.  In the United States the history of baseball stretches back into the late 1800s.  Ice Hockey has a distinguished lineage in Canada and the USA as well.  However, in my opinion few sports leave us the rich international heritage that soccer gives us.  It's easy for American boys like myself to think back on the legends of baseball from the same time period that Eusebio played football.  I think Hank Aaron or Willie Mays.   However, much of the rest of the world thinks back to players like Eusebio, players of the world's game.  Players who helped define what that game is to us today.  When you consider the worldwide reach of soccer and it's history, you realize the scope of it's power and that the greats like Eusebio will forever live on in the minds of a great many fans from all over the world, not just in the streets of Portugal or Mozambique.

As I've read about him, I've learned that he only stood 5'9, weighing in at a mere 160 during his career. Seeing pictures of him next to CR7 reinforces this fact.  Still, he was a hugely gifted forward.  He has been named as one of the top 10 players of all time and was known for deflecting credit from himself and being a truly humble human being.  The New York Times said he "represented the best of soccer and of Portugal."

So as we enter this world cup year, take a few moments and read about this legend of the game.  Find some video clips if you can.  My guess is that during Brazil 2014, there will be more than a few reflections back to 1966, when Eusebio stole the stage from England for just a little while.

For more reading on Eusebio, hit up the NY Times Obit or Jerry Trecker's piece on FoxSoccer.com.

Eusebio's casket at midfield of Luz Stadium in Lisbon (BBC)

Eusebio statue covered in scarves outside Luz Stadium (Yahoo)

UCL: Benfica vs. Chelsea

Chelsea's Fernando Torres in UCL action.  (Getty Images)

Chelsea had a tough week coming into their first leg of quarterfinal action at Benfica.  Last Wednesday they lost a lead late at Manchester City, and then had a disappointing home match on the weekend that ended in a draw vs. Spurs.  They looked like a side that might be content to play for a draw in Portugal, but what they actually put out was a great road performance.

The match took awhile to really get off the ground, as it looked like neither side was really willing to take a risk early on.  The first chance of the match fell to Chelsea in the 11th minute, but it was a long range effort from David Luiz that went well wide. Fernando Torres saw his first chance of the match on 22 minutes, but saw his volley miss as well.

Benfica would have a number of chances from set pieces throughout the evening, but they really didn't get a lot of quality from them and rarely troubled the Blues.  In the end, they would rue those missed opportunities.  

The best chance of the first half came to Chelsea in the 40th minute.  Raul Meireles set up  just outside of the 18 and sent a scorcher of a drive in on the Benfica goal.  Artur managed to dive and parry the ball away to preserve the 0-0 scoreline going into halftime.

Benfica must have had a great halftime talk as they came out on fire.  One of their best chances of the match came in the 47th minute as Oscar Cardozo sent in a drive on the goal that was blocked off the line by David Luiz.  The Benfica players shouted for handball, but Luiz had kept his hands firmly to his side as to not concede the PK.

Chelsea finally hit pay dirt in the 75th minute.  Ramires, playing against his former club, triggered a counter attack down the Chelsea right hand side.  The ball ended up at the feet of Torres, who sent a great cross into the six.  Saloman Kalou came streaking in unmarked and tapped the ball into the net to give the Blues the 0-1 lead and the all important away goal.

Benfica pushed for an equalizer in the last 15 minutes, but they never really seemed to threaten.  They looked to pretty much be out of ideas as to how to unlock the Chelsea defense, which stood firm.  In the end, Roberto Di Matteo's men held on to the 0-1 win and will take a good edge back to Stamford Bridge next week.

UCL: Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Benfica

Sergei Semak scores for Zenit in the 2nd half. (AP Images)

Soccer in the cold. My fellow fans here at the RioT know all about going out to support the club in the cold and snow, as do our rivals in Colorado. However, this Champions League match was a different story. Match time temperatures in St. Petersburg were below zero, and the pitch wasn't in good shape, as the Russian league is still in the midst of their winter break.

Still the two sides made the best of it. Both of these two teams must have been happy to be drawn against the other, instead of the likes of Barca, Milan, or Real Madrid. Both teams came out positive, though Benfica was the better. There weren't a lot of chances, but both sides took turns on the ball. Benfica finally broke through in the 20th minute. Oscar Cardozo sent a free kick in on goal, but the Zenit 'keeper knocked it back into play instead of turning it wide, and Maxi Pereira easily tapped in the rebound to make it 0-1.

Then Zenit woke up. They hadn't played a competitive match since early December, but going down a goal down really jolted their attack to life. In the 22nd minute Alexander Kerzhakov put a nice shot in toward the bottom corner that was kick saved by Artur. Finally in the 27th minute Tomas Hubocan sent in a cross that Roman Shirakov knocked in on a side-footed volley and tied the match at 1-1, which was the half time result.

Zenit came out in charge in the second half as well. Still they didn't create a lot of chances early, but the match opened up more and more, as Zenit knew Benfica already had the all important away goal. In the 71st minute Kerzhakov sent a ball in front of goal that fell to Sergei Semak. He brilliantly flicked it into the goal with a gorgeous back heel to make it 2-1 to Zenit.

As the match progressed toward the end, both sides seemed to be fairly satisfied with the score line. Zenit had the lead and Benfica, who has been unstoppable at home, had the away goal. Yet they were able to equalize from another blunder by the Zenit 'keeper. In the 87th minute he gave up yet another easy rebound that Cardozo walked in to make it 2-2.

The goalkeeping blunders were not done though, and they struck Benfica in the very next minute. Artur couldn't hold on to the ball and Shirokov found it as his feet totally unmarked. It was Zenit's turn for a tap in and they capitalized for the game winning goal. The full time result was 3-2.

The result gives Zenit a precious lead to take to Portugal in a few weeks. However, giving up one away goal is bad enough, two is even worse. Benfica must still fancy their chances. All they'll need is a 1-0 win. If Zenit's keeper could have done better, they would be totally in charge of the tie.