15 February 2007, by Tom Kundert

Last-gasp Miccoli gives Benfica precious advantage

Benfica 1-0 Dinamo Bucharest

A goal in the final minute from Italian striker Fabrizio Miccoli gave Benfica victory against Dinamo Bucharest in the first-leg UEFA Cup match played in Lisbon last night.

With a precious lead and a clean sheet the Eagles will head to the Romanian capital next week confident of reaching the last 16 of the competition.

Rui Costa: “It’s a slender advantage, but it’s a result that pleases us.”


Coach Fernando Santos recalled Petit and Karagounis to the starting line-up as Benfica looked to bounce back from their shock Portuguese Cup exit at Varzim on Saturday.

Despite a nervy performance in the opening half from the hosts, Dinamo had their excellent goalkeeper Lobont to thank for going into the break on level terms. The stopper got the better of Nuno Gomes three times in an intense individual dual between the two players.

Astounding save

On 17 minutes Rui Costa released Simao with a clever pass and the winger sped down the left wing before whipping over an inviting cross. Nuno Gomes beat his marker and his shot seemed destined for the back of the net, only for Lobont to produce a cat-like dive and pull off an astounding save for a corner.

Without playing anywhere near their best, Benfica were dominating possession against the inoffensive visitors, and on 34 minutes Katsouranis played a defence splitting pass into the path of Nuno Gomes but Lobont again pounced in a flash at the striker’s feet to smother the danger.

On the stroke of half time Luisao lifted the ball over the top of the Romanian defence giving Gomes a shooting chance, but that man Lobont was well placed to block the effort.

With Benfica in need of a goal, Santos replaced midfielder Petit with striker Miccoli and after holding out for 15 minutes Dinamo showed signs of wilting as Benfica applied increasing pressure.

Simao special

Twenty minutes from time the hosts were desperately unlucky not to take the lead. Simao won a free kick in a central position 25 metres out and expectation was high as the crowd awaited a trademark strike from the captain himself. Simao duly hit a peach of a shot that crashed against the underside of the bar, with Miccoli incredibly missing the rebound when it seemed easier to score.

In the 76th minute Quim was called on to make his only save of the match as a counter attack ended with a cross-shot from Niculescu that the goalkeeper deflected for a corner.

Just as it seemed Dinamo would escape with a draw, Miccoli atoned for his earlier miss to give Benfica a deserved win. Rui Costa crossed into the box where Simao’s effort was well saved by Lobont, but the pint-sized Italian striker swept in the rebound to the jubilation of the big crowd at the Estadio da Luz.

The second leg takes place next Thursday, with Paris Saint-Germain the likely opponents awaiting the winners after the French team beat AEK Athens 2-0 in Greece.

Benfica:
Quim, Nelson, Luisao, Anderson, Leo, Petit (Miccoli, 46), Katsouranis, Karagounis, Rui Costa (Joao Coimbra, 91), Nuno Gomes (Derlei, 74), Simao

Yellow Cards: Petit (33), Leo (77)

Dinamo Bucharest:
Lobont, Blay, Moti, Radu, Pulhac (Ze Kalanga, 65, Serban, 82), Cristea, Margaritescu, Munteanu (Ropotan, 79), Balace, Niculescu, Danciulescu
Yellow Cards: Pulhac (25), Moti (68)

Goals:
[1-0] Miccoli, 89