by A stellar Ángel Di Maria led a Benfica – with a goal, an assist and a shot on the post – that imposed its firepower and experience against a novice Salzburg, who paid dearly for their defensive errors, in the Champions League match played this Tuesday in the aforementioned Austrian town.
The Argentine attacker showed that at 35 years old continues to possess quality to determine matches at the highest level and he chose a crucial one to score his first goal, an Olympic goal, in this Champions League.
In this “final” of the last two of Group D, Benfica needed a victory by two or more goals to continue in the Europa League. Salzburg was also playing at home and the weather, persistent rain, seemed to benefit them.
The classification of the Eagles was certified by Brazilian forward Arthur Cabral at 90+2, in the first ball he touched after entering the field a minute earlier.
And it was a great goal: a long cross towards the far post is returned to the area by the Norwegian Fredrik Aursnes so that Cabral, With a backheel, beat the goalkeeper and unleash madness on your team.
That was the sentence of a Salzburg that had problems from the beginning due to numerous absences in defense, including that of veteran center back and captain Andreas Ulmer.
In the first half, as the minutes passed, Benfica managed to emerge more and more confidently from the classic advanced pressure of Salzburg and the arrivals of the Eagles, especially led by Di María, They forced the Austrians into hasty retreats.
This situation was taken advantage of by a well-organized Benfica that was waiting for its opportunity to go on the counterattack.
The first minutes were a score in which Salzburg, despite their goal advantage, did not come out to tie the result and played on the attack. Despite their efforts, the Austrian team failed to clearly create danger.
On the contrary, Benfica bit every time they got close to the Salzburg goal. The Portuguese Rafa Silva had a clear opportunity in the 13th minute, with a shot that went high, the first of many missed opportunities.
Benfica’s game began to flow better as the minutes passed and, in the 30th minute, a combination between Rafa Silva and Di María almost resulted in a goal, with the Argentine’s cross grazing the post.
And two minutes later came Di María’s Olympic goal. His corner kick, with a sharp, biting and powerful blow, left goalkeeper Alex Schlager with no options.
Salzburg, although outplayed in several sections of the game, had its moment in the 39th minute, when Ratkov was about to score after a collective play led by Croatian Luka Sucic.
The lack of experience was noticeable in the Austrian team, especially in defense, where 21-year-old Bosnian full-back Amar Dedic had difficulty containing Di María.
And precisely in that area the second goal for the Águilas was generated. Di María gave a pass with his left to Rafa Silva, who scored with a precise cross shot. This goal in added time (45+2) was a blow for Salzburg.
The second half was once again marked by the push of Salzburg and the opportunities of Benfica, who forgave the 0-3 because a volley that hooked Rafa Silva inside the area hit the Austrian goal. Schlager remained alive in Salzburg for many minutes.
The game changed with the entry of Salzburg’s two starting forwards, fresh from injuries, Fernando and Sekou Koita. Shortly after, Salzburg’s goal came, with a powerful shot from outside the area by Sucic that deflected a defense and against which Trubin could do nothing.
Minutes later came another classic play from Di Maria, who came in from the right and launched a left-footed shot that hit the outside of the base of the post.
In the last minutes, Benfica went all out to find the goal that qualified them for the Europa League, with a round-trip match in which the Eagles again miss the odd opportunity.
Everything seemed doomed until the 90+1 minute when Cabral entered the field. The Brazilian scored as soon as he came out and Benfica, who seemed out, will play in the Europa League.
