Draw leaves Benfica needing to win in Belgrade
Late own goal saves Red Star Belgrade
Posted on: 21 September 2024Match Report
Goalscorers
Benfica 2-1 Red Star (agg 3-2)
Benfica will need to win in Belgrade next week after Red Star scored a late equaliser in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie.
The Portuguese side looked to be cruising through to the next round after goals from Goncalo Ramos and Rafa Silva gave them a 2-0 lead inside the first half hour.
However, a late own goal from Milan Borjan has given the Serbian champions a lifeline ahead of the second leg next week.
Benfica started the game brightly and took the lead after just 17 minutes when Ramos headed home from a corner.
The visitors doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Silva fired home a low shot from the edge of the box.
Red Star came out fighting in the second half and were unlucky not to pull a goal back when Borjan's header came back off the post.
The Serbian champions continued to press and were eventually rewarded when Borjan headed into his own net from a corner in the 89th minute.
The goal gives Red Star a slight advantage ahead of the second leg in Belgrade next week, but Benfica will still be confident of progressing to the next round.
Comments