Liverpool won 3-1 over host Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Estadio da Luz, Tuesday (5/4).
Liverpool, who acted as the visitors, appeared aggressive from the first minute. The collaboration of Sadio Mane and his friends made Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos have to work hard to block attacks.
Of the many shots that threatened Benfica’s goal, Liverpool managed to score a goal through Ibrahima Konate in the 17th minute.
The goal stems from a corner kick scheme released by Andy Robertson. Konate is in the ideal position to head the ball into the net.
After winning 1-0, Liverpool more freely suppress the defense of Benfica. Liverpool then successfully doubled the advantage in the 34th minute.
In the process of this goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold keenly saw the gap in Benfica’s defense. He sent a bait deep into the penalty box and was successfully greeted by Luis Diaz.
The free-standing Luis Diaz chose to head the ball to the right instead of directing it to the goal. Sadio Mane stood in the right position and effortlessly found the ball into the net.
Two goals from Konate and Mane made Liverpool end the first half with a two-goal advantage.
Entering the second half, Benfica can stomping at the beginning. The cross that slid into the Liverpool penalty box could not be secured properly by Konate.
The ball then fell right at the feet of Darwin Nunez. Nunez did not waste this opportunity to become a goal.
After scoring a goal, Benfica was increasingly aggressive in pressing Liverpool’s defense. In the 60th minute, Everton fired into the bottom right corner but Alisson Becker reacted well to block the shot.
The game became more open in the final 30 minutes of the game. But Liverpool then managed to escape the pressure through the presence of the third goal scored by Luis Diaz in the 87th minute.
Luis Diaz escapes from the control of Benfica’s back line after receiving Naby Keita’s pass. Diaz then managed to get past Vlachodimos before firing a shot into the empty net.
Liverpool continued to press for the remainder of the match but the score was 3-1 unchanged until the referee blew the final whistle.
