Omonia 1-4 Benfica sends the Eagles top of the Europa League, while Torreense lose by the same score in Budapest
On matchday three of the league phase, Benfica won in Nicosia through Pavlidis, Aursnes, Prestianni and a Négo own goal, and lead on 9 points with a 10-2 goal record, ahead of Leverkusen on goals scored. Torreense lost 4-1 at Ferencváros and sit 28th on 3 points.
Benfica beat Omonia 4-1 in Nicosia on Thursday night and moved to the top of the Europa League league phase, three wins from three.
Their opener, on 14 minutes, came without a Benfica player getting the final touch. Aursnes crossed, Echeverri’s header was deflected, and defender Loïc Négo turned it into his own net. Omonia levelled on 42 through Andronikos Kakoullis, and it was 1-1 at the break.
A different second half
Vangelis Pavlidis restored the lead on 49, following up after goalkeeper Fabiano had saved from Bah. Aursnes made it three on 76, pouncing on an Omonia mistake as they tried to play out from the back, and Gianluca Prestianni finished it off on 85 after Lukébakio had carried the ball into the box.
Benfica now have 9 points with ten goals scored and two conceded. Five teams are on 9 points and Leverkusen have the same goal difference, but Benfica sit first on goals scored. It extends a run that began with the club’s first ever competitive win over Milan. Next up in Europe is Lech Poznań at the Luz on 5 November.
A rough night for Torreense
Earlier in the evening Torreense had lost 4-1 away to Ferencváros, the mirror image of Benfica’s score. Bamidele Yusuf put the Hungarians ahead on 20 minutes and Manu Pozo equalised straight away on 23, but Mariano Gómez (58), an own goal by Mohamed Ali Diadié (80) and Krisztián Lisztes (90) did the rest.
The Torres Vedras club are 28th with 3 points and a 4-7 goal record. Five matchdays remain, and only the top 24 go through from this phase.
By Vasco Almada
Chart: Tugadaily, from UEFA official standings