23 February 2007, by Tom Kundert

Impressive Benfica through to last sixteen

Dinamo Bucharest 1-2 Benfica (agg. 1-3)

After suffering an early scare when Munteanu put Dinamo Bucharest ahead on the night to level the tie on aggregate, Benfica moved up a gear to overcome their opponents with ease in Romania last night.

Two carbon copy headed goals from Anderson and Katsouranis gave the Eagles a deserved win to set up a fascinating tie with Pedro Pauleta’s resurgent Paris Saint-Germain in the next round.

Simao: “We showed that we have a lot of maturity.”

Fernando Santos sprang a surprise by leaving out striker Nuno Gomes, who is going through a goal drought, drafting in UEFA Cup winner Derlei in place of the Portugal striker.

After the visitors had enjoyed the better of a slow start, Dinamo stunned Benfica midway through the first half. Benfica’s offside trap was undone by a Pulhac throughball and Munteanu slid the ball past Quim to the delight of the big crowd in the Romanian capital.

Worrying moments

The goal boosted the home team’s confidence, and Niculescu and Danciulescu both came close to scoring a second as Benfica momentarily wobbled.

However, as half time approached the Portuguese team snapped out of its slumber and twice came close to scoring the equaliser. After goalkeeper Lobont blocked an effort at Derlei’s feet the ball fell to Simao outside the area, who arced a shot towards goal only for Lobont to produce a fantastic diving save.

On the stroke of half time Nelson swung in a corner which Katsouranis met with a firm header but Lobont, who had already impressed in the first leg in Lisbon, produced another excellent save.

Benfica started the second half as they finished the first, going on the attack as they sought the all-important away goal. They did not have to wait long. In the 50th minute Simao took a corner on the left and centre-back Anderson met it with a powerful header that thudded into the back of the net.

Ten minutes later a swift counter-attack saw Derlei set up Simao, but with just the keeper to beat Lobont again came out on top. It was only a temporary reprieve however, as Benfica won another corner, this time on the right, and Simao again hit a cross hard to the near post where Katsouranis powered a header into the back of the net.

Miccoli magic

With the tie won Benfica controlled the rest of the game and could have scored more as Miccoli and Simao ran the Romanian defence ragged. The Italian striker came closest with a delightful angled lob from close range but the ball fell just the wrong side of the post.

A deserved win for the Eagles who proved they were clearly the better team over the two legs, and Benfica fans will believe their team can go far in the tournament.

PortuGOAL man of the match
Simao – Two corners, two goals and a constant scourge for the home defence. Simao proved once again he is the jewel in the crown among Benfica’s plethora of talented forwards.

Dinamo Bucharest:
Lobont, Blay, Moti, Radu, Pulhac, Margaritescu, Munteanu (Mendy, 59), Serban (Balace, 46), Cristea (Ze Kalanga, 77), Danciulescu, Niculescu
Yellow Cards: Moti (22), Danciulescu (34)

Benfica:
Quim, Nelson, Luisao, Anderson, Leo, Petit, Katsouranis (Beto, 89), Karagounis, Simao, Miccoli (Nuno Gomes, 75), Derlei (Paulo Jorge, 86)

Goals:
[1-0] Munteanu, 23
[1-1] Anderson, 50
[1-2] Katsouranis, 64