SL Benfica 1 - 0 Dynamo Kyiv: Eduardo Salvio strike edges Benfica to victory

Eduardo Salvio's cool first-half penalty was enough to earn Benfica a valuable 1-0 win in their Champions League Group B clash with Dynamo Kiev at the Estadio da Luz.

The hosts wasted many chances in the opening half before Domagoj Vida brought down Luisao on the verge of half-time which the Argentinian slotted home.

Benfica also had Ederson to thank after the young goalkeeper amended his error of bringing down Derlis Gonzalez to save Junior Moraes' penalty.

The result leaves the Portuguese side in second place behind Napoli on goal difference on seven points with Besiktas hot on their tails a point behind in third.

The hosts dominated the early exchanges with most of the play in Kiev's half of the pitch without creating any clear-cut chances before captain Luisao connected with Luis Pizzi's outswinging corner but could only head over from 12 yards.

On 18 minutes, rampaging left-back Alex Grimaldo's deep cross found Salvio but once again he squandered the chance with a weak header.

The roles were reversed just moments later when Salvio broke into the box and a neat flick past Evgen Khacheridi found Grimaldo but his header was well saved by Artur Rudko.

Kiev responded through former Benfica winger Derlis Gonzalez after some neat footwork saw him get past Luisao but his tame effort was blocked by the recovering Victor Nilsson-Lindelof.

From the resulting corner, Gonzalez headed back across goal which found captain Domagoj Vida but his header flew over the crossbar from six yards out.

Both sides had decent opportunities to take the lead before the break with Gonzalez striking straight at Benfica goalkeeper Ederson and Serhij Sydorcuk blazing wide while Kostas Mitroglu spurned a great chance at the other end when shooting wide.

But on the stroke of half time, Vida hauled down Luisao in the area leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot, which Salvio coolly dispatched to earn the hosts a half-time lead.

The goal spurred the hosts on with Mitroglu spurning two great chances, firstly blasting over when through on goal before striking straight at Rudko.

Gancalo Guedes thought he doubled his side's lead eight minutes after the break but his rasping drive from 30 yards rattled off the crossbar.

Mitroglu squandered yeat another chance after he lofted the ball over Rudko but could only find the side-netting which nearly cost them as Kiev were given a lifeline with 20 minutes remaining.

Sydorcuk chipped pass found Gonzalez in the area but he was brought down by goalkeeper Ederson for the match's second penalty. But the 23-year-old redeemed himself by saving Moraes' spot-kick.

Substitute Raul Jimenez could have doubled the advantage with five minutes left but his shot went straight at Rudko as Benfica held on for all three points to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout phase.