Rosenborg 2 - 1 Benfica (UEFA CUP)
SL Benfica squeezed into the fourth round of the UEFA Cup thanks to a Nuno Gomes goal, despite losing 2-1 against Rosenborg BK in Trondheim and finishing the game with ten men.
The portuguese team started the game in a very bad way suffering a goal at the 7th minute, scored by Berg that level the eleminatory. Eight minutes after (15th) Karadas scored the second for the home team and Rosenborg was in his way to the next round. Benfica seemed to be doom to a nightmare night.
Benfica strike back against the run of play as Rosenborg's defence fails to clear the ball on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Zlatko Zahovic to head on and Nuno Gomes slots the ball under the goalkeeper. Benfica was now in the front, leading by away goals.
Almost in the end, Nuno Gomes faked a penalty and was sent off by the referee. Capable of the best and of the worst, was the way we can define the portuguese striker tonight.
With less one man the Lisbon team sufered all the second half with Moreira becoming the hero of the game making impossible defences.
The eagles did not flight very well tonight, but they still manage to fligh to Nyon to the UEFA CUP draw tomorrow.
Congratulations Benfica!!!!
ROSENBORG – Espen Johnsen; Basma, Riseth, Hoftun e Stensaas; Frode Johnsen, Berg e Winsnes (Solli, 71 m); Storflor (Enerly, 65 m), Karadas e Brattbakk.
BENFICA – Moreira; Miguel, Ricardo Rocha, Luisão e Cristiano (Armando, 82 m); Petit e Tiago; João Pereira (Hélder, 46 m), Zahovic (Fernando Aguiar, 61 m) e Simão; Nuno Gomes.
Goals: Berg 7´(1-0); Karadas 15´(2-0); Nuno Gomes 20´(2-1)
Reactions:
"We had big problems in the second half, because Gomes got his red card. After 2-0, I was thinking that this would be difficult. The goal by Gomes was very important," said Benfica head coach José Antonio Camacho.
"At first I thought we got a penalty. Then I was very surprised that the referee gave me the red card." , said Nuno Gomes
Rosenborg head coach Ola By Rise said: "We gave everything. It’s a pity it was not good enough. I can understand the way Benfica played after their player was sent off. They wanted to let the game die."
