SL Benfica 1 : 0 FC Otelul Galati - Benfica on top

Posted Wednesday, December 07, 2011 by PA

Benfica secured top spot in Group C after they overcame Otelul Galati 1-0 in a hard-fought Champions League clash in Portugal.

Oscar Cardozo scored the only goal of the night for the Portuguese side in the seventh minute with a simple tap-in to deny the Romanians a point in their debut season in the competition.

Benfica made it difficult for themselves against Galati as they spurned a host of chances, but their position at the top of the group was assured by Cardozo's goal as Manchester United, who started the night in second place, failed to make the final 16 following a 2-1 defeat in Basle.

Cardozo got the home side off the mark after midfielder Axel Witsel combined with Nicolas Gaitan, who pulled back to the unmarked goalscorer allowing the striker to finish from the edge of the six yard box.

It marked a period of dominance for Benfica but Galati regained some momentum at the end of the half with a couple of good attempts on goal of their own.

Benfica midfielder Pablo Aimar went close in the 13th minute with a testing inswinging corner which was caught by Galati goalkeeper Branko Grahovac.

Laurentiu Iorga tested Benfica's defence soon after when his long-range free-kick was saved by Artur in one of Galati's rare attacks.

Galati defender Ioan Filip then made a goal-line clearance at the near post from Gaitan's corner before Bruno Cesar's speculative long-range shot missed Grahovac's net.

Gaitan had another long-range shot denied just after half an hour before Galati went close twice in two minutes.

Gabriel Paraschiv's shot from the centre of the area was blocked by Artur before Gabriel Giurgiu's lobbed effort was cleared by Emerson.

Galati striker Liviu Antal then forced the Benfica keeper into another save as the clock ticked down to half-time.

After the break, Bruno Cesar's volley from the left of the area was saved by Grahovac before Cardozo missed a golden chance to double Benfica's lead in the 55th minute when he headed Witsel's cross over the bar from close range.

Javi Garcia and Witsel both tried their luck with long range efforts before Benfica substitute striker Nolito was twice denied with 15 minutes left on the clock.

It did not matter though, as the Portuguese side had done enough to progress to the knockout stages.