/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/54870869/GettyImages-160038748.0.jpg)
On April 24, 2017, Benfica played RB Salzburg in the final of the 2016-17 UEFA Youth League. The Portuguese club took the lead in the first half and looked increasingly likely to ride that goal to the title, until RB Salzburg struck back with goals in the 72nd and 76th minutes. The Austrian side won, 2-1.
The Portugal squad at the 2017 U-20 World Cup includes a healthy number of players from that Youth League finalist Benfica team, including goalscorer Jose Gomes. The Zambia squad at the tournament includes Patson Daka, the second-half substitute who equalized for Salzburg and tilted the Youth League final his team's way.
This game sets up as a sort of lopsided Youth League final re-match: half the team that played for Benfica that day vs. the man who pried their hands off the trophy.
Portugal will be favorite to win this match, not least because the squad does have such a heavy presence of players from one very good club side: there are eight Benfica players on the World Cup roster. But Zambia is the reigning Africa U-20 Cup of Nations champion and has its own chemistry. And at least one member of the team - Daka - should be able to provide a pretty good scouting report on what to expect from the Portuguese.
Per livesoccertv.com, here's where to find the game if watching from the USA:
Loading comments...