18 October 2006, by Tom Kundert

Second-half collapse leaves Benfica in deep trouble

Celtic 3-0 Benfica

Benfica’s Champions League ambitions are hanging by a thread after three second-half goals earned Celtic a big win over their direct rivals for qualification from Group F.

Two opportunistic goals from Kenny Miller and a late Stephen Pearson strike gave the home side a 3-0 victory and leaves Benfica languishing in joint last place, five points behind the second-placed Scots.

Nuno Gomes: "It’s difficult, but mathematically it’s still possible"

Benfica went into the match on the back of two big wins in the Portuguese Liga and their players and management made all the right noises in the build-up to the match.

But Celtic, roared on by their passionate supporters, attacked strongly from the off, with Maloney forcing goalkeeper Quim into a save in the very first minute. Miller also tested the Portugal keeper as Gordon Strachan’s team applied heavy pressure in search of an early goal.

After weathering the early storm, Benfica began to get a foothold in the game, enjoying more possession as the half went on. On the half hour mark Petit played a superb ball through to Miccoli, but Celtic goalkeeper Boruc just managed to reach the ball before the Italian.

Katsouranis miss

Benfica then missed a golden opportunity to snatch the lead as left-back Leo turned well and hit a pinpoint cross onto the head of Katsouranis, but the Greek midfielder headed disappointingly over. Leo then tried his luck from distance as Benfica enjoyed some good possession.

As in the last ten minutes of the first half, Benfica continued to look comfortable in the first ten minutes of the second period, during which time Simao sent a free-kick fizzing past the post.

But on 56 minutes the Parkhead crowd erupted in joy as Miller diverted a cross-shot from Naylor past Quim to open the scoring. Benfica reacted immediately, as a superb 25-metre rocket shot from Nuno Assis crashed back off the bar.

Disaster struck for the Eagles on 68 minutes when a Benfica corner ended with a swift counter-attack by Celtic. Maloney cut inside from the left and played a perfect pass into the path of Miller who finished with aplomb to double Celtic’s lead.

Fernando Santos tried to change things around, throwing on Nelson for Katsouranis and Kikin Fonseca for Nuno Gomes. Two bursts down the left flank from Simao caused danger. The first was snuffed out by Boruc and the second wasted by Miccoli who fired wastefully over when well-positioned ten metres from goal.

To rub salt in the wounds, late substitute Pearson scored a third goal in the final minute after some poor Benfica defending.

To go through to the next stage Benfica will probably need three victories from their three remaining matches, including a trip to Old Trafford. A third place finish and a place in the UEFA Cup looks a more realistic target for the team who reached the quarter-finals of last season’s competition.

PortuGOAL man of the match: Quim
Portugal’s second-choice goalkeeper prevented an even more embarrassing scoreline with some fine saves.

Celtic:
Boruc, Telfer, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Lennon, Sno (Pearson, 86), Nakamura, Maloney, Zurawski (Jarosik, 84), Miller
Yellow Cards: Evander Sno (70)

Benfica:
Quim, Alcides, Luisao, Ricardo Rocha, Leo, Petit, Katsouranis (Nelson, 72), Nuno Assis, Simao, Nuno Gomes (Kikin Fonseca, 78), Miccoli
Yellow Cards: Katsouranis (64)

Goals:
[1-0] Miller, 55
[2-0] Miller, 66
[3-0] Pearson, 89