CL Report: Benfica 1 - 0 Anderlecht
A Zlatko Zahovic strike in the 11th minute was enough to give Benfica a 1-0 win over Belgian champions Anderlecht in front of 62,077 fans in Lisbon on Tuesday evening.
The Slovenian international, who has been in excellent form during the preseason, latched onto a cross from captain Simao Sabrosa and thrashed it past goalkeeper Zitka.
Benfica were the better side in the first half but Anderlecht took control of the match in the second half and were unlucky not to get on the score sheet.
Anderlecht nearly salvaged a draw in the final minute of play after a great individual effort by striker Dindane Aruna. He beat two defenders before squaring it for a wide open Wilhelmsson, but it was just out of his reached and rolled agonizingly over the touchline.
With this result, a scoreless draw in Belgium would be enough to send Benfica through to the Champions League.
This was Giovanni Trapattoni’s first official match in charge of Benfica, and the former Italian National Team manager was victorious in his debut.
BENFICA - Yannick; Miguel, Argel, Ricardo Rocha e Dos Santos; Paulo Almeida e Petit; João Pereira e Simão; Zahovic; Sokota
ANDERLECHT - Zitka; Zewlakow, Kompany, Traore e Deschacht; Baseggio e Hasi; Lovre e Wilhelmsson; Mbo Mpenza e Aruna
Goal: Zahovic (12´)
Source: Goal.com, abola.pt, slbenfica.pt
