Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored an astonishing 98th-minute header as Benfica beat Real Madrid 4-2 on Wednesday to keep themselves in the Champions League and deny their illustrious opponents an automatic spot in the last 16.
In an extraordinary finale, the Portuguese side were heading out despite leading 3-2 with seconds of stoppage time remaining before Trubin came forward for a free kick to score the goal needed to sneak into the playoff round on goal difference.
That sparked wild celebrations from Benfica players, fans and their charismatic coach Jose Mourinho – a former manager of Real Madrid – at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.
The Spaniards had hoped to finish in the top eight and go straight into the last 16, but their 15 points from eight games was not enough and they finished the match with nine men as Raul Asencio and Rodrygo were sent off.
Andreas Schjelderup scored two goals for Benfica and Vangelis Pavlidis netted from the penalty spot, while Kylian Mbappe netted twice for Real in a hugely entertaining, end-to-end contest.
Benfica advance at the expense of Marseille, who lost 3-0 at Club Brugge. The giant screen in the stadium in Belgium congratulated both teams for advancing to the next stage, but that proved premature as Trubin turned the tables.
Both Benfica and Real needed a goal for different reasons going into the final minutes, and it is a vindication of the competition’s format that a single goal could have such a dramatic effect on the table.
Benfica were denied two strong early penalty shouts and Real took the lead on 30 minutes against the run of play when Asencio’s cross to the back post was headed in by Mbappe.
The home side drew level six minutes later when Asencio’s slip in the wet conditions allowed Pavlidis to provide a perfect cross for Schjelderup to head into the net.
Benfica were awarded a penalty in first half added time when Aurelien Tchouameni was adjudged to have hauled Nicolas Otamendi to the floor, and Pavlidis buried his spot-kick.
Schjelderup scored his second of the game from Pavlidis’ perfect pass to make it 3-1, before Mbappe swept home his second too, his 36th goal of the season in all competitions.
Benfica were still outside the top 24 when they were awarded a free kick with virtually the final play, and Fredrik Aursnes’ delivery was headed in by Trubin to complete a night of high drama in Lisbon.
Reuters
