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Clinical Cardozo keeps Benfica in Europe

Shakhtar Donetsk 1-2 Benfica

Benfica qualified for the Uefa Cup after producing a sturdy performance to beat Shakhtar in Donetsk and take third place in Group D ahead of the Ukrainian champions.

Two goals in the first twenty-two minutes from recalled Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardozo was enough for the Portuguese to get the win they needed against a hugely motivated Shakhtar side.

The hosts went into the game still with a chance of making the knockout stages if they won and Celtic were beaten in Milan, while a draw was required to ensure they did not lose out on third place and a Uefa Cup berth.

As expected, the home side flew out of the traps, roared on by a vivacious crowd at the Olympiyskiy stadium. After just three minutes Brazilian Fernandinho was afforded time and space on the edge of the area to dispatch a curling right-footed shot, which Quim did well to palm away with his left hand.

Cardozo pounces

After weathering the early storm, Benfica went ahead on six minutes following some feeble defending from Shakhtar. Lewandowski’s misguided back-pass was inexplicably allowed to run by Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Cardozo, recalled in place of Nuno Gomes, raced onto the loose ball and showed great composure to round Andriy Pyatov before firing into the top corner.

Cardozo was clearly in confident mood and the striker went close with a rasping 25-metre strike that had Pyatov worrying but dipped over the crossbar. However, Benfica’s most expensive summer recruit would not have to wait long to double his tally and put the Eagles firmly in the driving seat.

Right-back Nelson, also returning to the side in place of Luis Filipe, fed the ball out wide to Maxi Pereira, with the Uruguayan taking his time before delivering a pinpoint cross, which Cardozo rose to dispatch with a clinical header.

There was little time for the visitors to get comfortable, though, as their lead was halved eight minutes later when David Luiz was penalised for a push on Cristiano Lucarelli inside the area. The young Brazilian received a yellow card, before Lucarelli converted with a powerful drive down the middle that Quim almost managed to keep out.

Chances at both ends

Both sides had opportunities in an open finish to the first half, with Pereira shooting over following good work from Rui Costa and a well-executed dummy by Petit, while another of Shakhtar’s Brazilian contingent, Jadson, hammered his finish straight at Quim from inside the area.

Although Shakhtar started the second period much in the same way as the first, with waves of attacks, the Ukrainians struggled to break down a hard-working Benfica side during the remainder of the match, although they were given encouragement by occasional lapses in concentration from the Portuguese.

Brandao smashed a rare chance well wide and the impressive Dario Srna drilled an effort off target from a tight angle as the desperate home crowd became frustrated by their team’s lack of progression throughout the second half.

Not even news of Celtic’s impending defeat in Milan could inspire Shakhtar into seriously threatening the Benfica rearguard, which held firm until the final whistle to ensure further participation in Europe after Christmas at the Estadio da Luz.

Shakhtar Donetsk:
Pyatov, Srna, Rat, Chygrynskiy, Kucher, Lewandowski (Hubschman, 57), Ilsinho (William, 67), Fernandinho, Jadson, Brandao, Lucarelli (Gladkiy, 74)
Yellow Cards: Kucher, Brandao

Benfica:
Quim, Nelson, Leo, Luisao, David Luiz, Petit, Katsouranis, Pereira (Luis Filipe, 83), Rui Costa, Di Maria (Nuno Assis, 67), Cardozo (Nuno Gomes, 90)
Yellow Cards: David Luiz, Luis Filipe

Goals:
[0-1] Cardozo, 6
[0-2] Cardozo, 22
[1-2] Lucarelli, 30 (pen)