Benfica vs Liverpool, 1st Leg

Champions League
1-0
Final
1st Leg
Estádio da Luz
TV: DAZN

Match pulse

SLBAttacking pressure by 5 minutes
0'LIV
7Shots9
2On target0
7Corners3
0Saves0
15Fouls16

Who won: Benfica 1-0

Benfica beat Liverpool 1-0 in 1st Leg on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at Estádio da Luz. Goals for Benfica: Luisão (84').

Play by play

  1. 93'

    FULL-TIME: A bad night for Liverpool; Benfica were poor all evening, but snatched a late goal that will mean a very interesting second leg in Anfield.

  2. 92'

    A loose pass from Nelson hands Liverpool a throw, but it is deep in their own half; they look unlikely to get back in to this match now.

  3. 91'

    Liverpool win a late corner, but Garcia and Gerrard conspire to mess it up as they try to take it short.

  4. 90'

    Gerrard is desperately trying to find an equaliser, but Benfica have got everyone back as they try to cling on to an unlikely lead.

  5. 89'

    Karagounis really gave the home side a lift when he came on; he has put himself about and driven Benfica forward.

  6. 88'

    Benitez looks furious on the touchline; he has seen his side dominate the possession, and then go behind to a sucker goal. Not a good night for Liverpool.

  7. 87'

    Liverpool are pushing men forward to try and find this equaliser, but Benfica have defended well all evening.

  8. 87'

    Benfica are playing with much more confidence now; Simao attempts to loft a chip over Reina from the edge of the box, but the goalkeeper is positioned well to save.

  9. 85'

    That is a goal Benfica don't deserve. Luisao out-muscled Hyypia as they challenged for the ball, and it was a good finish, giving Reina no chance at all.

  10. 84'

    GOAL! Petit shapes to shoot, but instead lofts a great cross in to the area. Luisao loses his marker and plants a header inside the far post from eight yards out.

  11. 83'

    Hamann brings down Karagounis, 30 yards out. Alonso is fortunate not to be booked for blasting the ball at the Greek as he lay on the ground.

  12. 82'

    Garcia intercepts a pass in midfield and attempts a lofted ball over the top for Cisse to run on to, but Luisao spots the danger and heads clear. Good defending from the big Brazilian.

  13. 81'

    Gerrard sprints on to Cisse's flick down the left flank, but has the ball taken from him in a strong challenge from Nelson.

  14. 80'

    SHOT! Karagounis runs at the Liverpool defence and fires a shot goalwards; Carragher just manages to get a boot to the ball and deflects it for a corner.

  15. 79'

    The Liverpool skipper seems to have been asked to play just off Cisse in a position many believe is his best. Can he influence the result here?

  16. 78'

    LIVERPOOL SUB: Morientes is replaced by Gerrard; the Spaniard has worked hard but had little service. Gerrard should give his team-mates a bit of a lift for the final ten minutes or so.

  17. 77'

    Garcia does well to beat his man on the right of the midfield, but his attempted through-ball to Cisse is dreadful. Garcia has been woeful this evening; nothing he has tried has come off.

  18. 76'

    BENFICA SUB: Nelson replaces Robert. The on-loan Portsmouth winger is replaced by a more defensive player in Nelson. Strange change from Koeman, considering they are at home and need a goal.

  19. 75'

    It looks like Gerrard is being readied on the touchline; Liverpool really didn't want to use him, but they look desperate for an away goal to take back to Anfield.

  20. 74'

    Alonso does well to win a loose ball in midfield before firing a good pass out to the right for Cisse to chase.

  21. 73'

    Garcia sends over a long cross from the right, looking for Kewell at the back post, but the Austrian referee rules that Kewell pushed his marker as they jumped. Free-kick.

  22. 72'

    It's difficult to work out who would be happier with a 0-0 draw, should the scoreline stay this way; Liverpool would have wanted an away goal, but they should be confident of beating Benfica at Anfield.

  23. 71'

    Cisse does well down the right-hand side, but his cross to the near post is easily claimed by Moretto. Liverpool had only Morientes in the box.

  24. 70'

    So, just twenty minutes left for one of these teams to break the deadlock; if I'm being honest, neither side deserve a goal - they have both been below average this evening.

  25. 69'

    Riise again hurls a long, flat throw in to the penalty area, but Anderson flicks clear with his head; he has defended very well this evening.