Benfica’s Rafa Silva scored two very good objectives as they edged Juventus 4-3 in a thriller at Estadio da Luz on Tuesday to seal a spot within the knockout phases of the Champions League and finish the Italian membership’s probabilities on this yr’s competitors.
Benfica have 11 factors from 5 video games, the identical as Group H leaders Paris St Germain, whereas Juve’s three factors leaves them to concentrate on successful a spot within the Europe League, one thing they will safe on the ultimate matchday after they host PSG.
The house facet at the moment are unbeaten in 20 video games in all competitions this season and it’s simple to see why as they have been creative with the ball and may need been out of sight at halftime earlier than a late Juve rally meant a nervous end.
Because it was, it’s the first time in Juve’s historical past they’ve conceded three first half objectives within the Champions League and the primary time since 2013-14 they’ve didn’t get out of their group.
“It was a typical Champions League match, we knew we have been enjoying in opposition to an ideal crew,” Benfica goalscorer Joao Mario advised Mediaset.
“Our sport was stunning till the seventieth minute, then Juve have lots of high quality and put us in issue.
“We all know that there’s a lengthy approach to go, the season has simply begun. We should proceed like this, hold the fitting mindset and at all times work exhausting.”
Teenager Antonio Silva scored his first Benfica objective to offer the house facet the lead after 17 minutes, however Juventus drew stage when Moise Kean bundled the ball residence 4 minutes later.
Benfica have been again in entrance due to a controversial penalty that was transformed by Joao Mario earlier than Rafa Silva appeared to make the factors secure with two elegant finishes, both facet of the break, that completely illustrated his method and guile.
However the guests pulled a objective again late on by way of Arkadiusz Milik after he was arrange by younger English winger Samuel Iling, and the latter was key once more in creating an opportunity for Weston McKennie to attain Juve’s third.
That noticed a tense end on an evening when Benfica seemed as if they might humiliate their guests however needed to maintain on as Rafa Silva missed out on a hat-trick by hitting the put up.
“It is actually a pity and tough to seek out the phrases,” Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli mentioned. “There’s much more remorse, the final minutes (of the sport) are from a crew that has the balls to play. Let’s begin once more (within the subsequent match) from these final minutes.
“Soccer is made up of episodes, the entire crew made the flawed method (within the first half), not a single participant.”
(Reporting by Nick Mentioned; Enhancing by Ken Ferris and Christian Radnedge)