UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS, FIRST LEGS: Benfica 2 Liverpool 1IT WAS not a test of Fernando Torres' inner resolve that Liverpool faced in Lisbon last night but an assault on their collective will. Controversially reduced to 10 men after only 30 minutes against Benfica, Rafael Benitez's side also had the comfort of a precious away goal undermined by two costly penalty decisions at Estadio da Luz. Throw in a painful night for their Spanish talisman in Iberia, and Liverpool's infuriation was complete.
Liverpool could have departed with a draw had Torres not squandered a one-on-one late on, before being replaced due to what seemed an injury, but two Oscar Cardozo penalties has left them a troubled task at Anfield next week.
Liverpool gained a foothold after nine minutes. It was an exquisite finish from Daniel Agger. The Swedish referee, Jonas Eriksson, awarded Liverpool a foul on the left of the Benfica penalty area when Maxi Pereira sent Steven Gerrard sprawling. Gerrard squared his delivery low to the unmarked Agger, who flicked a back-heel into the bottom corner.
Fabio Coentrao squandered a chance to level within minutes when he met Carlos Martins’ cross at the back post, only to slice his connection over the bar.
On the half hour Liverpool’s task became more problematic when Eriksson brought chaos to proceedings and Babel foolishly received a straight red card for pushing Luisao in the face. The Benfica captain was the instigator of the controversy with a dreadful foul from behind on Torres. Luisao was also guilty of lifting his hands. Torres put the ball in the net from another Gerrard free-kick but Dirk Kuyt was given offside in the build-up.
Benfica’s defenders were taking turns to leave their mark on Torres in an attempt to entice a reaction from the Spaniard, and their supporters also crossed the line when a fire-cracker was thrown at one of the additional assistant referees behind the goal.
Cordoza was awarded a generous free-kick outside the penalty area following a tussle with Agger. When the Paraguayan’s free-kick cannoned off the base of a post and rebounded to Aimar, who was heading to ground before Insua made contact, Benfica got the benefit of the doubt again. Penalty; and Cordoza made his mark.
Cordozo benefited again when Carragher was adjuged to have handled Di Maria’s cross 12 minutes from time, this time sending Reina the wrong way.
GuardianService
BENFICA: Julio Cesar, Maxi Pereira (Nuno Gomes 66), Luisao, David Luiz, Fabio Coentrao, Javi Garcia, Ramires, Carlos Martins (Ruben Amorim 72), Di Maria, Aimar (Airton 86), Cardozo. Subs not used: Moreira, Luis Filipe, Sidnei, Alan Kardec. Booked: Luisao, David Luiz.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (Benayoun 90), Babel, Torres (Ngog 82). Subs not used: Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Plessis, El Zhar, Pacheco. Booked: Insua, Reina, Carragher.
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden).
