EUROPA LEAGUE: Ben FICA 2 - 1 Juventus
24 April 2014
Lima's powerful late strike gave Benfica a
narrow advantage over Juventus in a high-
quality Europa League semi-final first leg.
The hosts, who were crowned Portuguese
champions on Sunday, went ahead early on
as Ezequiel Garay's header crept in.
They did not make more of their first-half
dominance and Carlos Tevez levelled for
Juventus after shimmying thorough a
packed penalty box.
But Benfica recovered with Lima's effort
sparking wild celebrations.
Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini both
had chances to spoil the party, but Benfica
just about escaped with their lead intact
despite sitting back once again.
With the final to be played at Juventus
Stadium, the visitors' ambitions of ending an
18-year wait for European silverware in front
of a 'home' crowd were dented by Garay's
early effort.
With less than two minutes on the clock, the
Argentina defender rose above Leonardo
Bonucci to head Miralem Sulejmani's corner
past an unconvincing Gianluigi Buffon.
The 27-year-old centre-back has long been
linked with a move to Manchester United
and, with his contract expiring at the end of
next season, caught the eye with another
polished performance.
His team matched those standards in the
first half, pressing high and bristling with
danger as they broke at pace,
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul
Pogba was Juventus' most threatening
player, but his energetic bursts down the
right often left his team-mates behind as
regularly as his opponents.
Juventus were kept waiting on the pitch as
Benfica took their time to emerge for the
second half, but the gamesmanship seemed
to backfire as the Italians dominated after
the interval.
Stephan Lichtsteiner's dangerous cross had
been hacked clear by Maxi Pereira ahead of
a lurking Claudio Marchisio before Tevez
struck.
The former Manchester City striker's first
touch initially seemed heavy from Kwadwo
Asamoah's cutback but, as Luisao closed in,
he feinted to shoot, skated round the
defender and poked a finish between the
goalkeeper's legs.
With parity and an away goal, Juventus
might have hoped to shut the game down,
but they could not hold out as Benfica
roused themselves once again.
Just 11 minutes later, a slick attack ended
with Lima burying an explosive shot beyond
Buffon after a neat dummy from Ivan
Cavaleiro.
The tie could have taken another twist but
Marchisio and Chiellini shot straight at Artur
with space and time to do better.
Lima's powerful late strike gave Benfica a
narrow advantage over Juventus in a high-
quality Europa League semi-final first leg.
The hosts, who were crowned Portuguese
champions on Sunday, went ahead early on
as Ezequiel Garay's header crept in.
They did not make more of their first-half
dominance and Carlos Tevez levelled for
Juventus after shimmying thorough a
packed penalty box.
But Benfica recovered with Lima's effort
sparking wild celebrations.
Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini both
had chances to spoil the party, but Benfica
just about escaped with their lead intact
despite sitting back once again.
With the final to be played at Juventus
Stadium, the visitors' ambitions of ending an
18-year wait for European silverware in front
of a 'home' crowd were dented by Garay's
early effort.
With less than two minutes on the clock, the
Argentina defender rose above Leonardo
Bonucci to head Miralem Sulejmani's corner
past an unconvincing Gianluigi Buffon.
The 27-year-old centre-back has long been
linked with a move to Manchester United
and, with his contract expiring at the end of
next season, caught the eye with another
polished performance.
His team matched those standards in the
first half, pressing high and bristling with
danger as they broke at pace,
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul
Pogba was Juventus' most threatening
player, but his energetic bursts down the
right often left his team-mates behind as
regularly as his opponents.
Juventus were kept waiting on the pitch as
Benfica took their time to emerge for the
second half, but the gamesmanship seemed
to backfire as the Italians dominated after
the interval.
Stephan Lichtsteiner's dangerous cross had
been hacked clear by Maxi Pereira ahead of
a lurking Claudio Marchisio before Tevez
struck.
The former Manchester City striker's first
touch initially seemed heavy from Kwadwo
Asamoah's cutback but, as Luisao closed in,
he feinted to shoot, skated round the
defender and poked a finish between the
goalkeeper's legs.
With parity and an away goal, Juventus
might have hoped to shut the game down,
but they could not hold out as Benfica
roused themselves once again.
Just 11 minutes later, a slick attack ended
with Lima burying an explosive shot beyond
Buffon after a neat dummy from Ivan
Cavaleiro.
The tie could have taken another twist but
Marchisio and Chiellini shot straight at Artur
with space and time to do better.
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