The 1–1 draw in Lisbon had left everything hanging by a thread. Tenerife had the slight advantage of the away goal, but it felt almost too delicate to rely on. Benfica knew they didn't have to do much.
Just one moment. One slip-up. And at this level, that could unravel months of hard work.
At the Estadio Heliodoro Rodríguez López, you could feel the tension in the air. The stands were packed long before the kickoff, every seat filled, every aisle bustling with anticipation.
From the very first whistle, the game had a sharp edge to it.
The opening ten minutes were intense and a bit chaotic. Challenges came flying in early, and passing sequences fell apart under pressure. Both teams were reluctant to give up any ground, yet neither could claim full control. It was a match played on instinct, with a healthy dose of caution.
Then, in the 12th minute, Benfica seized their opportunity.
Enzo Pérez found a pocket of space between Tenerife's midfield and defense, receiving the ball without anyone immediately on him.
Kikoto was just a beat late in closing him down, and that was all it took. Enzo didn't rush his decision. He patiently waited for movement ahead and then delivered a perfectly timed pass to Pablo Aimar.
Aimar didn't just need space—he made it happen. His first touch was gentle, just enough to guide the ball into his stride as he surged forward.
Luna paused for a brief moment. He thought Kikoto would recover, close the angle, and take charge of the run. That tiny hesitation opened up a gap.
Aimar seized the opportunity.
Aragoneses reacted swiftly, darting off his line to tighten the angle, but Aimar remained calm. He delicately lifted the ball, not with brute force, but with precision, sending it just out of the goalkeeper's reach.
Benfica 1, Tenerife 0.
Aggregate 2–1.
The stadium didn't explode with noise. Instead, it fell silent, save for the away section.
Laurence turned right away, signaling for Casemiro to push higher, to tighten the space Benfica was exploiting. In no time, he had his notebook out, jotting down notes—adjustments, reminders, little tweaks that could stop the game from slipping away.
Tenerife restarted without missing a beat.
Kikoto got the ball deep and instantly switched the play with a diagonal pass aimed at Neymar. The Brazilian had been quiet up to that point, holding his ground, drawing attention but playing it safe. Now, with the deficit looming, his mindset shifted.
He drove the ball forward with purpose.
Maxi Pereira tried to contain Neymar, but with a deft touch, Neymar slipped the ball right through his legs. That little move opened up a path toward the edge of the box. Luisão quickly stepped in to intercept, stretching out his leg to block Neymar's advance.
There was contact.
Neymar hit the ground.
The whistle blew.
Penalty.
Benfica's reaction was instant. Players swarmed around the referee, arms flailing, voices raised in protest. Even the bench was on their feet, disputing the call.
It wasn't a clear foul.
Replays would later reveal that the contact alone didn't warrant Neymar's fall. But he had sensed the moment and executed a well-timed dive.
Laurence observed with a blank expression. He wasn't sure if the penalty was justified. But at this level, second-guessing fairness rarely mattered.
What truly mattered was the chance at scoring.
Neymar placed the ball with care. Artur Moraes shuffled along his line, trying to throw him off his game. Neymar stayed focused, took two quick steps, and struck low to the right. The goalkeeper dove the other way.
Goal.
Tenerife 1, Benfica 1. Aggregate 2–2. Tenerife led on away goals.
The atmosphere in the stadium shifted instantly, erupting into a wave of noise—loud, sharp, and relentless. Drums picked up their rhythm, and flags waved more vigorously.
Laurence stepped forward, shouting toward the pitch, "Keep your eyes forward! Don't let up!"
He wasn't celebrating the equalizer; he was gearing up for what came next. Benfica responded with poise.
They didn't rush in blindly. Instead, they reorganized, slowed the pace, and waited patiently for Tenerife to make a mistake.
That moment arrived in the 20th minute.
Grimaldo, feeling the pressure on the left side, attempted a pass inward to Casemiro. Unfortunately, it was a tad too slow.
Witsel was quick to pounce, anticipating the pass before it even reached its target. With a single touch, he redirected the ball right into Rodrigo's path.
The defensive response was instinctive but ultimately flawed.
Luna stepped in, followed closely by Koulibaly. Both rushed toward Rodrigo, trying to neutralize the immediate threat, but in doing so, they left a gap behind them.
Nicolás Gaitán noticed it right away. Aimar did too.
Their connection was seamless and instinctual. Aimar flicked the ball over the defensive line with a deft touch. Gaitán's movement was perfectly timed. He didn't rush his first touch; instead, he guided it forward, steadying himself before unleashing a low shot toward the near post.
Aragoneses reacted, but the shot was quick and precise.
Goal.
Benfica 2, Tenerife 1.
Aggregate 3–2.
Laurence slammed his notebook shut in frustration and called Kikoto over to the sideline.
"Stay tight on Aimar," he instructed, his voice firm and composed. "No space. Not even for a second."
Kikoto nodded and quickly returned to the field.
The next phase of the match turned chaotic, but not in a way that benefited Tenerife.
Grimaldo started pushing higher up the pitch, trying to stretch Benfica's right side. Natalio made several runs into wide channels, attempting to draw defenders out of position. Bony dropped deeper, looking to link up play and provide some structure in possession.
But their movements lacked coordination.
They were more reactions than a cohesive system.
Benfica maintained their shape, allowing Tenerife to advance in disorganized waves. Every misplaced pass, heavy touch, and rushed decision only played into Benfica's hands.
By the half-hour mark, the shift in momentum was unmistakable.
Laurence had already ripped out several pages from his notebook. It wasn't out of frustration, but rather because the strategy he had brought into the match had completely fallen apart.
Tenerife had stopped sticking to a system. They were now improvising under pressure.
In the 30th minute, Benfica struck again.
Tenerife was pressing high, trying to force a turnover. Koulibaly charged out aggressively, aiming to intercept a pass meant for Witsel. But Witsel anticipated it perfectly and let the ball glide past him.
Aimar picked it up just behind the line.
Once again, he found space where it seemed impossible.
Without a moment's hesitation, he shifted the ball wide to Maxi Pereira, who had moved into open space as Grimaldo drifted centrally.
Maxi sent in the cross right away.
Rodrigo attacked the ball with determination. Luna scrambled to regain his position, Bellvís called for support, and Aragoneses stepped up.
But it wasn't enough.
The header went low and controlled, finding the corner.
Benfica 3, Tenerife 1.
Aggregate 4–2.
The stadium fell silent.
Across the pitch, Jorge Jesus stood with his arms crossed. He didn't show any outward celebration. His expression was more one of quiet confirmation. His team had executed exactly what the game demanded.
Victor leaned slightly toward Laurence.
"They're controlling the rhythm," Victor murmured. "We're being outmaneuvered at every step and we can't do anything about it."
Laurence remained quiet, watching the clock tick slowly.