Benfica vs Liverpool, 1st Leg
Match pulse
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 91'
Liverpool win a late corner, but Garcia and Gerrard conspire to mess it up as they try to take it short.
- 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.
- 89'
Karagounis really gave the home side a lift when he came on; he has put himself about and driven Benfica forward.
- 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.
- 87'
Liverpool are pushing men forward to try and find this equaliser, but Benfica have defended well all evening.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 74'
Alonso does well to win a loose ball in midfield before firing a good pass out to the right for Cisse to chase.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

