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First-half demolition job sees Benfica ease into 5th round

Benfica 3-0 Desportivo das Aves

It was an easy day at the office for Benfica as they swept aside Liga Vitalis outfit Desportivo das Aves 3-0 at the Estadio da Luz. Three first-half markers by Yebda, Luisao and Maxi Pereira snuffed out any hopes Aves had of causing an upset.

It was a different Benfica than the one that lost to Galatasaray last week in the Uefa Cup as the Lisbon side took the game straight away to their guests and did not let up until their mission was complete.

No better example of this was more evident than in the second minute of the match as Yebda headed a Carlos Martins corner kick past Rui Faria to give the Eagles the lead from only their second effort on goal.

The hosts would continue to toy with their opponents and in the 19th minute Luisao headed in a Carlos Martins free-kick to give the home side a comfortable two-goal lead.

Sublime Aimar pass

Benfica would complete the rout inside the 30 minute mark as Maxi Pereira got in on the action when he received a sublime Aimar back-heel pass and the full-back slipped the ball past Rui Faria to put the Eagles three goals to the good.

Aves had their best opportunity to pull a goal back in the 40th minute when the unmarked Sami headed the ball straight at Moreira.

Aves tried to change things at the re-start with the introductions of Rui Miguel and Leandro, but the changes proved futile as Benfica played out the rest of the match as if they were on the training pitch.

The biggest highlight of the half came in the 67th minute when David Luiz finally made his return to the pitch after missing the last nine months with a toe injury.

Up until the final whistle Benfica were using Aves as target practice as the home side came close to scoring their fourth goal on various occasions via Cardozo, Aimar and Yebda.

The match ended with Benfica as deserved winners as they showed their class against an Aves side who were no match for the Portuguese giants.

Benfica:
Moreira, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, Sidnei (David Luiz, 67), Leo, Binya, Yebda, Carlos Martins (Balboa, 72), Aimar, Cardozo, Suazo (Urretavizcaya, 59)
Yellow Cards: Suazo

Desportivo das Aves:
Rui Faria, Sergio Carvalho (Leandro, 46), Nuno Medes, Sergio Nunes, Geraldo (Rui Miguel, 46), Romeu Ribeiro, Gouveia, Ruben Lima, Vinicius, Sami (Torres, 72), Robert
Yellow Cards: Sergio Carvalho, Sami, Gouveia, Leandro

Goals:
[1-0] Yebda, 2
[2-0] Luisao, 19
[3-0] Maxi Pereira, 28