~73': just saw a tall dude with a fro in a Benfica jersey getting instructions from his coach! edit: confirmed via his number that he's waiting to get subbed in. Looks like he'll come in around the 75`
The Portuguese announcers do call him "Joshua" when he touches the ball. Sadly, he's gone with "J. Wynder" on his jersey (TBF, we can't all have a Portuguese-ready first name like 'Keaton') Also, it's now 0-5. Decent chance he'll get more minutes in the return leg.
Game ends at 0-5. Hard to take much away from one of the "big 3" stomping on a club from the 4th division, but Josh's debut looks decent on paper: 16' played, 2 interceptions, 1 tackle, 1/3 on duels (the two he lost were aerial :/), 13/13 on passing, charged with 2 fouls. Hopefully that's enough to get him 30' in the return leg (also, I feel a little bit bad that Tirsense has to play a 2nd leg).
Went looking for predictions about the lineup for the 2nd leg of the cup semi-final (this Wed.), and found a twitter user who made a nice all-touches compilation of his senior debut: 1910357174754083281 is not a valid tweet id Since the senior debut, Josh started in both B team games. Only one is noteworthy: Josh was pulled at halftime in a 1-2 loss to Maritimo, presumably because he picked up a YC 15' into the game. The other one was his standard rock solid 90' in a 3-1 win. Finally, gotta shout out the serbenfiquista user who got 140 reps (or whatever reps are in Portuguese) with the post, "With his debut, won't we have to pay tariffs?". That's a solid joke.
Hard to imagine this tie being more over than it is at 5-0, but fingers crossed for a barrage of 1st half goals so that Josh can get a super extended run out in the 2nd half.
Josh started against last place Mafra for Benfica B today. Subbed off at the half, but given that he had a yellow, they were up a man and up 2-0, might have been motivated by minutes distribution and avoiding a second yellow rather than performance.
Josh played the whole match in a 3-3 draw with Felgueiras. At least it's clear he wasn't hurt. Doesn't make sense to play for this squad again next year, I don't think.
Benfica B's season ended with a derby match vs Porto B. Josh didn't make the squad, and I can't tell why... he did collect 7 cards all season, so it might've been a second suspension for accumulation? Regardless, one of Benfica's starting CBs (Thomas Araujo) has been dealing with a lingering groin injury and the club announced that he will not go to the Club World Cup so that he can recuperate. Both fans and the press are speculating that Josh is in the running for open the roster spot, both because he had a very good year for the B team, and because he's American: 1922352140825080085 is not a valid tweet id
Wynder has been named to Benfica's CWC squad and has spent the last couple of days training with the first team 1931823181805072649 is not a valid tweet id 1932459915202924864 is not a valid tweet id
Josh might just be along for the ride at the CWC. He's not dressing for their first match vs Boca Juniors. 1934719003659833562 is not a valid tweet id edit: He did, however, play in a friendly vs the Tampa Bay Rowdies 1932898193261383761 is not a valid tweet id
The Rowdies friendly was 3x35' halves. Not sure how much he played for, but he did notch a goal, apparently: https://bsky.app/profile/joaonuno.bsky.social/post/3lre6up6shk2k
Looks like a couple of their academy defenders made the bench over him. 19 year old Leandro Santos and 18 year old Goncalo Oliveira Santos appears to be a right back that had 3 appearances with the main team. Oliveira is a central defender with no first team appearances
Killer reporting from DAZN: "I'm here with a young Benfica player who *checks notes* will not be playing soccer tonight!"
Benfica played a 60 minute training match vs FC Naples (USL1) this morning: https://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/Agor...cao-1-edicao-mundial-de-clubes-estados-unidos. They won 2-1. Wynder started and most likely went the distance, as Benfica's match report only listed 3 subs, none of which were defenders. The other starters either did not play last night or played very little. The guy who likely took Joshua's spot on the bench (Oliveira) did not play last night and was partnered with Josh today. edit: image from the gallery
gah, imagine playing for a USL1 club, coming in for a training session, and getting told that you'll have to spend 30 minutes marking Andrea Belotti. That'd be sick lol
He's on the bench for today's match vs Auckland City! 1936077199854940231 is not a valid tweet id Auckland are probably still smarting from their 10-0 loss to Bayern, so they have a lot of prove, but today could be a chance for Joshua to at least make a cameo.
Halftime at 1-0. Auckland City is playing with more dedication. Despite dominating the first half (65% of possession, 18 shots, 8 shots on target), Benfica have only found the back of the net via a PK converted at 45'+6'... Not looking great for a Wynder cameo, but who knows...