Last-gasp goal denies Benfica win

Benfica 1-1 Marseille

A 90th-minute header by Ben Arfa denied Benfica victory in a high quality match played at the Estadio da Luz tonight, after Maxi Pereira had given the Eagles the lead 15 minutes from the end.

It finished one-one, but it could easily have been 3-3 or more with both teams spurning plenty of chances.

Benfica 1-1 Marseille

Benfica will be desperately disappointed to have conceded at the death, but perhaps on the balance of play a draw is the fair result. An excellent game of football in Lisbon tonight, particularly in the first half. Marseille will be delighted to escape with a draw and a precious away goal after it seemed they were going down to a narrow defeat. But with the firepower of this Benfica team the tie is far from over.


90 + 2' Final whistle goes.

90' GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Equaliser for Marseille. Fantastic header from Ben Arfa beats the diving Julio Cesar. That could be a crucial blow for the Eagles.

87' Off comes Saviola for Brazilian Eder Luis. Jesus freshens up the attack for the final minutes.

85' Ramires almost scores!!! Fantastic shot almost snaps the crossbar in two with Mandanda completely beaten by the force of the shot.

84' Cardozo's effort flies over the bar.

83' Free-kick won by David Luiz right on the edge of the area in the centre of the goal. Good opportunity. Cardozo takes aim...

81' The game has really opened up now. Saviola and Carlos Martins threaten with dangerous breaks but Marseille survive.

80' Ben Arfur makes a couple of dangerous incursions but Benfica hold firm.

76' Coentrao comes on for Peixoto.

75' GOAL!!!!!!!!!!  Di Maria causes panic in  the Marseille rearguard and forces his cross over. After a couple of deflections the ball is poked into the net by Maxi Pereira. The stadium erupts.

73' A subsitution for each side. On comes Ben Arfur for Marseiile. Fabio Coentrao is about to come on but the referee says to wait until the next stoppage.

71' First-time angled shot by Di Maria cleared when it seems to be heading into the bak of the net.

70'  Yellow Card for Brandao. Maxi Pereira does well to get past his marker and is brought down by Brandao.

69' Good work by Ramires, who makes room for himself and fires a powerful shot just over.

67' Better from Benfica. Maxi Pereira and Di Maria cause danger down either flank, but the crosses are cut out by the French defence.

65'  Yellow Card. Maxi Pereira shows the right-back a yellow for an outrageous dive in the box.

63' Jorge Jesus has seen enough. Aimar comes off for Carlos Martins.

62' Benfica saved by Juliio Cesar! Brandao crosses, Niang heads from close range and the Brazilian goalkeeper makes a spectacular stop, keeping  it out at two attempts.

60' Marseille looking the more likely at this stage.

57' Saviola breaks but the excellent Diawara makes a perfect defensive interception.

56' Cesar Peixoto tries his luck with a hopeful punt from way out. The crowd are getting restless.

55' The  impressive Cheyrou works himself room for a shot. His powerful effort is saved by Julio Cesar at the second attempt.

53' Lack of concentration from Ramires leads to a needless corner. Aimar blocks the cross.

52' Benfica are finding it hard to work up a head of steam. The visitors enjoy a lengthy spell of pressure in the Benfica half.

49' Marseille hit back with Niang having a shot but it's an easy save for Cesar.

48' Ramires hits a fierce shot over the bar.

46'  Yellow Card. Ex Porto player Lucho Gonzalez further endears himself to the Benfica crowd by scything down David Luiz and picking up a booking for his troubles.


Excellent half of football. Both teams have looked dangerous going forward and created plenty of chances but no goals as of yet. More of the same in the second period please.


45 + 1' Marseiile break dangerously but magnificent defending from David Luiz snuffs out the danger. The half-time whistle goes,

45' Another let-off the Benfica and it's that man Lucho Gonzalez who shoots wide when it seems easier to score!

44' Next it's Di Maria who comes close, curling a shot just wide.

43' Benfica come close again! Maxi Pereira crosses, Cardozo shoots from close in but his effort is deflected wide.

40' Great chance missed by Benfica! Superb passing movement by the home fans frees Aimar, but with just the goalkeeper to beat Aimar hits his shot weakly and Mandanda stretches to save.

39' Good short passing movement by Benfica. Aimar dinks the ball over the last defender into the path of Saviola, but the striker had stayed offside.

37' Two corners in quick succession for Marseille. The French team have not come to Lisbon to defend.

34' Great chance for Cardozo goes begging! Luisao picks out Di Maria with a raking pass, the Argentine sends over a wonderful cross but the Paraguayan balloons over when well placed to break the deadlock.

32' Interesting dual developing between big Marseille striker Brandao and Benfica right-back Maxi Pereira.

30' Di Maria thunders a super shot from distance that flies just wide. High-quality game at the Luz.

29' Abriel shows nifty skils on the right wing but David Luiz stands up to him well and makes the challenge.

26' Excellent break by Maxi Pereira, but Ramires fails to take advantage. Fantastic combination between Aimar and Saviola only stopped by a last-ditch clearance.

25' Brandao is down injured and Benfica coach Jorge Jesus takes advantage to furiously issue instructions to David Luiz.

22' Benfica reply. Cardozo does well to get on the end of a long looping cross but shoots into the side-netting.

21' Again Marseille a whisker away from taking the lead! Gonzalez again at the heart of the danger, playing in Brandao with a beautiful thoughball. The Brazilian sprints clear but with just Julio Cesar in front of him he screws his shot wide.

20' Ramires is having little joy against the impressive Marseille defence.

19' It's a role reversal as Cardozo crosses for Di Maria whose header is plucked out of the air by Mandanda.

17' Benfica hit straight back. Di Maria crosses and Oscar Cardozo heads not far off target.

16' Incredible let-off for Benfica! A cross breaks to Lucho Gonzalez's feet but from point-blank range the former FC Porto midfielder pokes wide.

15' Excellent cross whipped in from the left by Lucho but a couple of French forwards had strayed offside.

14' Dangerous ball lifted into the box by Lucho. David Luiz intercepts in the nick of time to deny Abriel.

11' Judging by the opening exchanges the two teams appear well-matched. Neither goakeeper yet called into serious action.

8' Aimar threads through a delightful pass to Saviola who falls in a heap under a heavy challenge from Diawara but the referee waves away loud shouts for a foul on the edge of the box.

5' Good break by David Luiz, playing a nice one-two with Aimar to create room for a shot but it's too close to Mandanda who saves easily.

2' Benfica in their traditional kit of red shirts and socks with white shorts. Marseiile clad in light blue from head to foot. Play confined to the midfield in the early stages.


The stadium is filling up nicely, with tens of thousands of red clad fans taking their seats. Vitoria the Eagle helps whip up the crowd with the traditional circling of the stadium and perfect landing on its perch. To further boost the already frenetic atmosphere, the unofficial Seleccao anthem, "I've got a feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas blurts out of the loud speakers. May the action begin.


Starting line-ups

Benfica:
Julio Cesar, Maxi Pereira, Luisao, David Luiz, Cesar Peixoto, Javi Garcia, Ramires, Aimar, Di Maria, Saviola, Cardozo

Marseille:
Mandanda, Bonnart, Diawara, Mbia, Taiwo, Lucho, Cisse, Cheyrou, Abriel, Brandao, Niang