Raúl Jiménez struck twice in Kazakhstan as Group C pioneers Benfica recouped from two objectives down to protect a point and kill Astana from the UEFA Champions League all the while.
Requiring a triumph to keep up their trusts the hosts, usual to the chilly conditions, got
Benfica chilly with two objectives inside 31 minutes. Patrick Twumasi turned into Astana's first ever scorer in the gathering stage before Marin Aničić multiplied the point of preference. Be that as it may, Jiménez diminished the shortage late in the first half before mesh a second after the break to guarantee a draw.
In spite of missing harmed skipper Luisão and suspended playmaker Nicolás Gaitán, the Eagles went to the Kazakhstani capital in sure state of mind knowing three focuses would secure advancement. In reality, Rui Vitória's side commanded the early trades with Jardel and Gonçalo Guedes going close.
Be that as it may, against the keep running of play, the Kazakh title holders got the opener with their first exertion on target. Twumasi met Junior Kabananga's whipped cross from the left at the back post before gesturing past Júlio César. On 31 minutes, Aničić staggered the segment pioneers by occupying Foxi Kéthévoama's left-wing free-kick into the base right corner from short proximity.
Goalkeeper Nenad Erić plunged to one side to repel Pizzi's swerving 34th-moment endeavor as the guests searched for a path over into the challenge. After six minutes, the Portuguese outfit snatched a help when Mexican global Jiménez dashed to the front post before sending a capable header into the upper right corner.
The away group conveyed that force into the second half with Guedes and Jonas missing good open doors before finishing the turnaround on 72 minutes. Substitute André Almeida surged down the privilege before discovering Jiménez who guided the cross into the far corner.
Minutes prior Júlio César had kept Benfica alive, standing out a leg to square Kabananga's low strike. Notwithstanding pushing for a late champ the Eagles couldn't discover the triumph that would have ensured capability however it mattered little as Atlético Madrid's later win against Galatasaray guaranteed they and the Portuguese side advancement as Stanimir Stoilov's Astana – unbeaten at home – left the opposition.
I think today was a decent execution from us. We scored objectives and did all that we could to win, however we're frustrated not to have scored a third to secure the triumph. Notwithstanding, regardless of the possibility that we had lost I would have been upbeat in light of the fact that the group demonstrated they can play football at the most elevated European level.
It was a really tough game for us – nobody has had an easy match here. Astana caused us major difficulties but we got the point that keeps us on track and we are satisfied with the result. The most important thing was that the boys who came off the bench played well.
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire