Spartak reignited their Champions
League hopes with their first win in
Group G, edging out winless Benfica
2-1 on a nervy night in Moscow.
The visiting side were caught napping
after three minutes, a loose pass from
Nemanja Matic sparking a lightning
break and a slick reverse pass
culminated in Rafael Carioca's tidy, flick
finish.
Ari hit the bar as the hosts threatened
to extend their lead but the Portuguese
- who had chances of their own - were
level when Lima (33) ghosted in to
head home Eduardo Salvio's cross at
the near post.
But they were not able to hold out
until the break as Spartak laid siege
and Evgeni Makeev's driven cross from
the right saw Jardel (43) - at full stretch
- divert past his own keeper.
Oscar Cardoza came off the bench to
give Benfica fresh heart but when
Salvio latched onto a weak back
header, he drilled beyond the far post
with just the keeper to beat.
Lima then dithered when sprung clear
down the left and saw his shot blocked
but despite almost constant pressure
on an increasingly desperate defence,
the home side held out.
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