Spirited Benfica rue missed chances

Benfica 1-1 AC Milan

Benfica went toe-to-toe with the world’s best club, AC Milan, in the Champions League and came out of it with a 1-1 draw.

The result, combined with Celtic’s win over Shakthar Donetsk, bounces the Lisbon club out of the competition, but with their heads held high as the Portuguese side put in an inspiring performance.

The hosts had Europe’s reigning champions teetering for good portions of a match, but the Eagles could not come up with the knockout punch and now have to win in Donetsk to earn a spot in the Uefa Cup.

Benfica started the match nervously allowing Milan a goal-scoring opportunity in the very first minute as Brocchi crossed from the right and found an isolated Gilardino, but the Italian international was not able to produce the finish. On five minutes Seedorf fired a shot towards goal which Quim saved for a corner kick.

Milan’s early pressure paid off in the 15th minute as Pirlo received the ball from Kaka, and the Italian midfielder’s shot from outside the box found its way into the far corner although Quim may feel he should have done better. The Italians almost doubled their lead three minutes later as Petit inadvertently knocked the ball just past his own net in cutting out a Pirlo free-kick.

Pereira rocket

Benfica then came close to an equaliser twice through Cristian Rodriguez, but both efforts went begging. However, in the 20th minute Benfica were level as Maxi Pereira received the ball just outside the Milan box, shimmied his way past Gattuso and sent in a screamer with his left foot which went in off the far post to make it 1-1.

Benfica could have taken the lead seven minutes later as Rodriguez played a neat one-two with Rui Costa, but the Uruguayan’s effort went wide of the near post. Milan responded in the 29th minute as Brocchi sent in a powerful shot that Quim punched out with Gilardino picking up the rebound but hitting his effort straight at the Portugal goalkeeper.

Just before the break, Leo charged down the left flank and passed to Nuno Gomes, who in turn played the ball to Maxi Pereira, and only a perfectly timed sliding Kaladze tackle prevented the home side from going up by a goal.

A tepid start to the second half did not see either team pushing the issue, but Rui Costa tried to change all that with a strike in the 61st minute that went just wide of Dida’s post. Benfica thought they had taken the lead in the 62nd minute, but Nuno Gomes’ effort was rightfully called offside.

Milan almost scored a cheeky goal in the 68th minute as Pirlo took a free-kick to Quim’s left and tried to arch it over the goalkeeper towards the far corner, but the ball missed the target and went out of play.

Late chances

With time winding down, Benfica had a fantastic opportunity in the 84th minute, as Nesta took an ill-timed tumble, Rui Costa threaded the needle with a pass to substitute Cardozo, who then overran the ball and left everyone in the stands with the notion of what could have been.

Both teams had opportunities to claim the three points in the dying seconds. First, Di Maria found some space just inside Milan’s box, but hit the ball straight at Dida. Immediately after, Kaka had a wonderful chance to give Milan the win as he shook off a defender, and with a clear shot on goal, screwed the ball wide of the post.

An entertaining match from beginning to end, but Benfica spurned too many opportunities and now see themselves ousted of this year’s competition.

Benfica:
Quim, Luis Filipe (Di Maria, 74), Luisao, David Luiz (Adu, 88), Leo, Katsouranis, Petit, Maxi Pereira, Rui Costa, Cristian Rodriguez, Nuno Gomes (Cardozo, 74)
Yellow Cards: Petit (68)

AC Milan:
Dida, Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Serginho (Maldini, 46), Gattuso, Pirlo, Brocchi (Gourcuff, 51), Kaka, Seedorf (Oddo, 73), Gilardino
Yellow Cards: Kaladze (37), Serginho (41), Maldini (80)

Goals:
[0-1] Pirlo, 15
[1-1] Maxi Pereira, 20