Benfica edge past Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the last 16 round of UEFA Europa League
Benfica beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the first leg of the last 16 round of the UEFA Europa league at the Estadio da Luz on Thursday evening. Maximiliano Pereira and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Franco-Jara-c14063 scored for the hosts while Peguy Luyindula netted an important away goal for the visitors.
Benfica manager, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AJ-Auxerre-c38247 last Saturday. Mevlut Erdinc and Peguy Luyindula started upfront for PSG.
The hosts almost took the lead inside the second minute of play when Gaitan worked his way into the PSG box before forcing a brilliant save from Edel Bete. Moments later, PSG came close to scoring themselves, after a brilliant build up play. Anderson Nene fed Erdinc in the box whose shot was destined for the top corner but Jimenez Roberto made a brilliant diving save to deny him.
The visitors broke the deadlock in the 14th minute when Nene played a lovely through ball to Luyindula, who controlled the ball before striking a low shot into the bottom corner of the net, to make it 1-0 for PSG. Four minutes later, the Ligue 1 side had a brilliant chance to double their advantage. Nene sent a perfectly weighted cross for Erdinc whose first time effort bounced off the post and went out for a goal kick.
The intensity of getting a win was clearly visible in the two sides as both the goalkeepers made a string of good saves in the opening half hour. Benfica managed to equalise just before the half time whistle as Carlos Martin’s cross was volleyed into the top corner of the net by Pereira to make it 1-1.
The second half started with the same pace where the first half left. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabio-c13152 Coentrao made a surging run into the box from the left flank and saw his low shot miss the goal by a few inches. The hosts dominated ball possession with 60 per cent of the share but they lacked the creativity in the midfield. The Portuguese league champions had several efforts going off target, as they substituted Jara for Salvio in the 66th minute to increase their attacking options.
The substitution paid huge dividends as Jara scored nine minutes before the full time whistle. The Argentine duo of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pablo-Aimar-c28938 and Jara combined beautifully before the latter unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area and the ball found the bottom corner of the net to make it 2-1 for the hosts.
PSG bombarded the Benfica goal with several efforts but could not find the equalising goal as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat after gaining an early advantage.
The second leg of the tie will be played at the Parc des Princes on 17th March.
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