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Efficient Benfica see off Naval challenge

Naval 0-2 Benfica

Benfica earned a 2-0 away win from their tricky-looking fixture at Naval last night. Cristian Rodriguez and Nuno Assis got on the score sheet to see off a determined and feisty Naval.

The win will be a big boost to the Lisbon club’s confidence as they now prepare to complete the job of getting past Nuremberg in the second leg of their Uefa Cup tie later this week.

Naval started the match on a mission as the relegation fighters came out of the blocks and took the game to their visitors straight away. The hosts came close in the 6th minute when Marcelinho’s header rattled off the post. Naval again hit the post two minutes later, but this time at the other end of the pitch as Paulao’s attempted clearance deflected off the woodwork and out of play.

The Eagles opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Cristian Rodriguez headed a deflected Cardozo ball from the edge of the box into the top corner to make it 1-0. The goal only served to increase Naval’s domination, with the hosts not allowing the Benfica players any space or time to think when they did have the ball.

Goal-line clearance

Nonetheless, Benfica had two more good opportunities before the end of the half as Cardozo took a free kick late on, forcing Wilson Junior to make an stretching save and a Katsouranis header was cleared off he line by Mario Sergio, keeping’s Naval’s hopes alive heading into the second half.

Naval continued to persist and their dogmatic approach almost paid off as Paulao nearly equalised in the 55th minute. The central defender made a mess of a header when left unmarked. Cardozo then came close to netting Benfica’s second goal, but his effort just sailed over the crossbar.

In the 62nd minute Quim had to be alert to push Marcelinho’s free kick over the crossbar for a corner kick. Benfica started to put some pressure on the hosts and Nuno Assis should have done better in the 70th minute when he was spotted by Luis Filipe, but the Portuguese midfielder’s effort went way over the crossbar.

Nuno Assis then threatened again as the player ran onto a Freddy Adu cross, but Wilson Junior’s challenge was enough to throw the Benfica player off balance and the ball was eventually cleared.

Costa class

Having been on the field for just five minutes, substitute Rui Costa showed his class with a pin perfect pass that found Nuno Assis racing down the right flank. The recipient looked up and saw an unmarked Makukula, but the striker could not get on the end of what appeared to be a sure goal.

Just before the final whistle another late Benfica substitute, Sepsi, made a good run down the left wing, carrying the ball to the goal line and passing towards the heart of Naval’s box, where an unmarked Nuno Assis had the easiest of tasks to tap the ball into the net and seal victory for Benfica.

Naval:
Wilson Junior, Mario Sergio (Marinho, 75), Paulao, Diego, Igor (Dudu, 63), Gilmar, Godemche, Joao Ribeiro, Davide, Saulo (Elivelton, 75), Marcelinho

Benfica::
Quim, Luis Filipe, Luisao, Katsouranis, Leo, Binya, Nuno Assis, Maxi Pereira, Cristian Rodriguez (Adu, 72 (Sepsi, 90)), Cardozo (Rui Costa, 85), Makukula

Goals:
[0-1] Cristian Rodriguez, 19
[0-2] Nuno Assis, 92