taken from goal.com
UEFA Cup Report: Benfica Comeback Downs Dinamo Bucureşti
It was a rough ride that saw the Encarnados struggle to impose their identity on Romanian soil, but in the end the Portuguese giants got it together and pulled off a turnaround victory that means they go through to face Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals.
zoom - galleria The game started off with Miccoli trying to get the upper hand over the local defense but the first shot was rattled off by Dinamo as Danciulescu skewed a speculative missile wide and high of Quim’s sticks.
The Encarnados were holding back and waiting for counter-attacks spearheaded by Simão and Miccoli, although Lobont and Moti swooped on the embryonic moves. Cristea – making it into the team at the last minute – blasted in a shot that Quim punched clear and Margaritescu slapped another chance wide.
Moti saw yellow after hacking Miccoli, but it was to be a mixed blessing for the boys from Bucharest as the card was swiftly followed by the goal that sets the tie back on an even keel. Miccoli’s strike was cancelled out after a lapse of less than 30 playing minutes.
The Benfica back four were caught napping as Pulhac found an onside Munteano (23 min) and the Encarnado rearguard froze like a rabbit in the headlights, depositing all their faith in an offside trap that had conspicuously failed to be triggered in time.
The hosts could have gone two up five minutes later as Luisão and Anderson failed to clear a ball and Niculescu forced Quim into a good save as the Romanian spun round and unleashed a shot. Benfica were against the ropes and Santos’ side were starting to show the worrying headless chicken behaviour that already cost them dear in the Champions League.
It would only be on the half hour mark that the Portuguese side had an attempt on goal, Simão’s free kick finding Luisão but the Brazilian nodded over Lobont’s bar. Benfica tried to hit back with Simão shooting wide right of Lobont and Derlei forcing Serban into a foul that was perfect for Simão – in theory, but the midfielder’s shot was slapped wide to a consequence-free corner.
Over at the other end Danciulescu did a dying swan act worthy of a rotten tomato as he felt Léo’s breath on his neck and hit the deck with a thud and accompanying sound effects of a Rambo extra. Ref Nicolai Vollquartz didn’t swallow the soap opera acting and waved away claims for a penalty with one hand as he showed the Dinamo man a yellow with the other.
Benfica were dazed and confused on the pitch, reeling from the goal and yet incapable of stringing a decent attack together. Nélson, not going through a great phase, passed to a rival when he wanted to send the ball to Katsouranis: a symptom of the general malaise within the Portuguese ranks.
Karagounis found Miccoli in the area with a rare fine pass, but Lobont was sharply focused and anticipated the attack just as the Italian prepared to leap on the chance to add to his first leg tally and put Benfica ahead again.
Simão forced Lobont into an acrobatic save that miraculously kept the hosts’ sheets clean as the ball was tipped wide and racing local pulses dipped with relief. Lobont was on song again before the break as Nélson sung in a corner and Katsouranis power-headed in – only to find Lobont keeping his sticks clear and his team in the tie.
The second half started with just one change, local boy Serban being replaced by Balace, although his entrance was hardly talismanic for Dinamo Bucureşti. Simão tapped over a short corner to find Anderson (50 min) at the near post and finally beating Lobont with a flashing nod.
Balace tried to hit back as he slipped by Katsouranis and Nélson but Luisão – now as focused as can be – anticipated well and cut his cross short before it could land in the danger zone. Miccoli almost clinched the tie for Benfica as Blay lost out and Miccoli blasted a screamer in that hit Lobont’s side netting.
Pulhac walloped in a vicious left-footer and the ball sped past Quim’s post, Margaritescu following suit with a less accurate missile as the Romanians put aside their sniper rifles and rolled out the Katyushas. Goal scorer Munteanu went off for Mendy as Mircea Rednic tried to spur a reaction – but still denying Zé Kalanga the chance.
Katsouranis almost made a sever gaffe as his back-pass to Quim almost fell at the feet of the Romanian strike force but Benfica were getting closer, Simão getting into prime position but only rattling off a limp-ankled shot that Lobont lapped up easily.
The pressure ended up eroding the hosts as Katsouranis (64 min) nodded in a near post Simão corner in a déjà vu repeat of Anderson’s equaliser. The Romanians were left winded, knowing full well that they now needed to hammer home four goals to go through.
Benfica almost increased their lead as the last-gasp rush by Dinamo Bucureşti left their rearguard exposed but Miccoli’s pass to Derlei came up short. Minutes later the Italian was at it again, slightly deflecting a cross that shaved paint off the Romanian post.
Benfica made their first change fifteen minutes from time as an exhausted Miccoli made way for Nuno Gomes, the Portuguese international now partnering Brazilian signing ‘Ninja’ Derlei. Mircea Rednic finally opted for Zé Kalanga – aping his first leg error and brining the potentially decisive speedster on far too late, Cristea – disappointing – finally ceding his spot.
Ss the two extra minutes of stoppage time was announced, Fernando Santos made his remaining two substitutions to burn a little time. Beto replaced Katsouranis and Paulo Jorge came on for Derlei but the score remained the same and Benfica are through.
FC DINAMO BUCUREŞTI - SL BENFICA (2nd Leg)
Venue: Dinamo Stadium, Bucharest, Romania
Referee: Nicolai Vollquartz (Denmark)
FC DINAMO BUCUREŞTI (1): Lobont; Blay, Moti, Pulhac and Radu; Cristea, Margaritescu, Munteanu and Serban; Danciulescu and Niculescu
Coach: Mircea Rednic
Substitutes: Matache, Balace, Zé Kalanga, Smirnovs, Mendy, Ropotan and Alexe
SL BENFICA (2): Quim; Nélson, Luisão, Anderson and Léo; Katsouranis, Petit and Karagounis; Simão; Derlei and Miccoli
Coach: Fernando Santos
Substitutes: Moretto, Miguelito, Paulo Jorge, Beto, Nuno Gomes, João Coimbra and David Luiz
Goals: Munteano (23 min), Anderson (50 min), Katsouranis (64 min)
Katsouranis what a great performance :nw:
Karagounis equally as good has really impressed me :nw:
