Reds surge into semis

Liverpool prolong European adventure

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 9th April 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Reds surge into semis

Torres: Deadly double

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Liverpool were able to make light of their first leg deficit as they saw off Benfica 4-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League.

Dirk Kuyt, Lucas Leiva and Fernando Torres did the damage for Rafa Benitez's side, who will now face Atletico Madrid in the last four, while Oscar Cardozo replied for the visitors.

Benfica started brightly, pushing the Reds back early on, but they were undone by a controversial goal on 28 minutes which turned the tide in favour of the hosts.

Kuyt nodded home a Steven Gerrard corner from right in front of the keeper, but saw the assistant referee raise his flag.

Much discussion followed, as both sides argued their case, and in the end Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers awarded his countryman a goal.

Buoyed after taking control of the tie, Liverpool then made it two six minutes later when Lucas raced onto a through-ball from Gerrard and calmly rounded the keeper before slotting into an empty net.

The Reds then notched a third on 58 minutes when Torres rounded off a flowing counter attack to fire home from close range.

Cardozo briefly gave Benfica hope when he drilled a low free-kick past Pepe Reina on 70 minutes, but it was not enough for the Portuguese giants.

Fittingly, Torres had the last word on the night as he calmly chipped in a fourth for the hosts eight minutes from time, securing a 5-3 aggregate success and booking a date with his former employers.

Discomfort

Torres, who was controversially substituted at Birmingham at the weekend to rest a knee injury, showed worrying signs of discomfort in the early stages.

His mobility was not helped by a crude early challenge from Rechel Sidnei and that set the tone for a night of rough treatment for the Spaniard, who had clearly been identified as the dangerman.

Benfica actually started the stronger and had an early opportunity after Jamie Carragher pushed the charging Pablo Aimar over on the edge of the box.

Angel Di Maria's free-kick went straight into the wall and was put behind for a corner.

Liverpool took time to find their stride and it was not until the 15th minute that they worried Benfica as Gerrard's whipped free-kick was headed behind by Ruben Amorim.

Gerrard then fired in a cross for Torres but the striker, who headed straight at Julio Cesar anyway, was offside.

Torres had another chance from a Glen Johnson cross but his glancing header went wide.

The Reds were taking charge and although Benfica continued to look dangerous on the break, they carried the greater threat.

They levelled the tie in the 27th minute after Yossi Benayoun won a corner on the left.

Confusion

Gerrard delivered a perfect cross for Kuyt from the resulting set-piece and the Dutchman firmly headed home from six yards.

A moment of confusion followed as the goal initially appeared to have been disallowed as the assistant referee on the far side flagged for offside.

Liverpool protested and the referee and additional assistant behind the goal agreed the goal should stand.

With an away goal in the bank, that gave the Reds the edge overall but they had the momentum and wanted more.

They followed up with a second goal six minutes later as Gerrard slipped the often-maligned Lucas in on goal with a superb ball.

The Brazilian showed great composure to swerve around Cesar and tap in his first goal in 11 months.

The job was far from done, however, and Liverpool survived a couple of scares before the break as Cardozo fired a free-kick at Reina and Sidnei had a shot deflected for a corner.

But Benfica captain Luisao almost handed Liverpool another goal early in the second half.

Kuyt won possession on the right and fed Gerrard, who delivered a low ball across the box.

Luisao slid in to make the interception but lost control and needed Cesar to palm it away.

Deserved

Liverpool's deserved third arrived just before the hour from a swift counter-attack.

Lucas was struck between the legs as the Reds defended a free-kick inside their own half and left their colleague in pain as they charged downfield.

Benayoun raced into the Benfica half and spread the ball wide for Kuyt, whose first-time cross was swept in by the onrushing Torres.

The atmosphere at this point was raucous, but anxiety soon set in as Benfica pulled one back on 70 minutes after Kuyt fouled Ramires on the edge of the area.

Cardozo, who scored two penalties in the first leg, blasted in a low shot through a gap in the wall.

Benayoun conceded another free-kick in a similar position for tripping the same player four minutes later but this time Cardozo's curling effort flew narrowly wide.

The Reds battled on and showed the resolve to kill off the tie eight minutes from time.

Lucas won the ball in midfield with a powerful challenge and Javier Mascherano sent Torres clear with a brilliant pass.

Torres made no mistake as he raced into the area and clipped the ball over substitute goalkeeper Jose Moreira, a replacement for the injured Cesar just moments earlier, with delicate poise.

Liverpool could at last breathe easily and took off Torres, Gerrard and Benayoun in the closing minutes.

LiverpoolTeam StatisticsBenfica
4Goals1
21st Half Goals0
5Shots on Target2
1Shots off Target8
3Blocked Shots6
5Corners12
12Fouls12
7Offsides0
1Yellow Cards1
0Red Cards0
63.6Passing Success78.2
39Tackles26
69.2Tackles Success69.2
38.7Possession61.3
49.4Territorial Advantage50.6

Comments (32)

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Tom David (Liverpool fan) says...

I'm delighted for Lucas, his all round play was excellent last night and he took his goal really well. I am sick and tired of "alleged" liverpool "fans" who clearly never go to the game, just listen and regurgitate the general opinion that Lucas is not good enough. Yes Lucas is not, and never will be an Xabi Alonso, Stevie Gerrard or a Javier Monster Masch, but he gives his all, every game and it's about time people give him credit where it's due!

Posted 09:49 9th April 2010

Dave w (pool fan) Wilson (Liverpool fan) says...

Great result.and effort from Liverpool. But nothing has been won yet. We need champions league football.

Posted 09:39 9th April 2010

Avinash Aunaruth (Liverpool fan) says...

Great win but then what. How a lot of the fans forget fast. Benfica controlled the game in the midfield on our grounds.Good we scored but so many attacks we blundered for nothing .Lucas scored but he is terrible in midfield. Come to think of it , we got no midfield. It seems pool we playing with 5 at the back. Anyway, i don't see a future with this team.Torres is not being served properly upfront and Stevie G looks like he has passed his prime. We are never going to make 4th spot (with so few games left) and if you are happy that this win is supposed to make up for a cluless manager and a team who should be in the CL and not Europa league then go ahead. Get real plz.. No money for new players and a manager who cannot do more than two things at a time. If we win Europa, which i doubt highly, we will finish in 6th spot. Will probably anyway. By all account, Rafa needs to go out. You cannot save your best player for Europa and say we are working on 4th spot later after the game.Your intents were clear after Birmingham. You care about Euro league and not the EPL. SACK RAFA. Next season is already lost anyway.

Posted 09:33 9th April 2010

Kaloo T (Liverpool fan) says...

Well done Liverpool. Excellent win.

Posted 09:16 9th April 2010

Simon G (Liverpool fan) says...

Sorry but Lucas scoring one goal does not make him a top player! During a 15 minute spell in the second half he went through on goal, miss controlled it with his first touch which took it into the air, when it finaly came down he was shaping to volley it, which came off his shin and went out for a goal kick! shortly after that, ball came to him in midfield, tried to give it to Agger by lifting it over a Benfica player an easy ball by all accounts, but Lucas hit it 30 foot in the air and about 15 metres short of Agger, just one minute later an easy ball to Gerrard was on, Lucas being Lucas turned and played it 30 yards backwards, then gave a foul away, were you all watching the same player as me?? He is progressing, but he is simply not good enough to be the main man in the Liverpool midfield! Good performance after Liverpool got the first goal before that they were shocking! Kyut man of the match for me if only he could play like that everyweek. Signs are good, but Lucas has to go and nothing is going to change my mind on that one.

Posted 09:05 9th April 2010

Ibrahim Rassul (Liverpool fan) says...

Well done liverpool boys, get going to win the Europa cup, Love Liverpool forever( Kurdistan Love Liverpool)

Posted 09:05 9th April 2010

Andy Gilmartin (Manchester United fan) says...

Congratulations! Liverpool fans must be really proud of their performance....in the Mickey Mouse Cup! Let's hope you can do us a favour against Chelski.

Posted 08:42 9th April 2010

Richard Le (Liverpool fan) says...

A great result which might hopefully give us the confidence to win our remaining league games and push the surrounding teams all the way for that 4th spot. To all those Lucas doubters; it's not the player, it's the manager! Benitez shackles him by forcing him to play as a holding midfielder. On the two occaisions this season where he's been allowed licence to roam he's been magnificent. In my eyes it isn't the players who have been brought in who are the problem (all though god knows some of them really suck!) it's the fact that Benitez plays them out of position or forces them to play in a style that doesn't suit them. I'm a die-hard Red and think in general Rafa's great but it might be time for change...

Posted 08:21 9th April 2010

Patten Vicky (Liverpool fan) says...

Congrats to Torres, Gerrard and liverpool team. I have no doubt Liverpool will become the first English club to win the Europa Cup. Hence LFC will save its poor premier league season. Need to strengthen the club next season to be able to compete for the premier league trophy which is a priority to all LFC fans around the world. Lots of LFC fans here in Mauritius.

Posted 08:04 9th April 2010

Paul Doorbar says...

Liverpool were not at their best last night but still a good result, and after getting robbed last week it was nice to wipe the smile off their faces. Maybe i can see what rafa sees in Lucas but for me he doesnt do it anywhere near enough. I just hope torres has a good welcome at Athletico and then scores a hat trick!

Posted 07:56 9th April 2010

Gaetan V (Liverpool fan) says...

Very proud of the performance , and I have a dtrong belief that they will bring the cup home.. Something I still can't understand , is that MU is doing the same thing that Liverpool was doing in the 70's and 80's and Liverpool is now doing what MU was doing then. I explain , having a scottish manager , with no star player or may be one or two star players , and winning almost every match. whereas Liverpool has now so many star players with 99 % internationals and still unable to be constant.. so please think about it..

Posted 05:01 9th April 2010

Nick Hadges (Chelsea fan) says...

The fact that Liverpool supporters think that winning this trophy is an achievement is sad. Liverpool are supposed to be a massive club but that trophy is like the Carling Cup no one tries to win it, it just happens. Question if Liverpool win the Europa do they qaulify for Championsleague?

Posted 03:55 9th April 2010

Sandeep Boughan (Liverpool fan) says...

Great performance!! Hopefully now we can go on a run to the end of the season, get 4th spot & win the Europa Cup. Wouldn't be too bad of season after all.

Posted 03:08 9th April 2010

Zack Qureshi (Liverpool fan) says...

Dam Now thats liverpool best performance of the season so far they all worked so hard everyone was man of the match. Lets take it to the next game.

Posted 02:37 9th April 2010

Bernard Nyamekye says...

That was a superb performance by Liverpool and as a fan I will be very pleased if the boys go on to win the cup, hence go on boys!!!!!!!!!

Posted 02:32 9th April 2010

Andy Cox (Liverpool fan) says...

Why are all Liverpool fans getting excited about a competition that we was never entered in to... We was never good enough for the Champions League so why should we gate crash the Europa League. We wont even make the Champions League next season, get real true Liverpool fans we are just not good enough for the top prizes......! Good luck Fulham I hope you go on to win it........! True Fan......!

Posted 02:20 9th April 2010

Barry O leary (Liverpool fan) says...

Im sick of all these comments congratulating Liverpool. We are a very poor team who are taking great satisfaction from a tournament where englands 12th best team (fulham) is comfortably reaching the semis aswell. this is the worst team to come out of anfield in many a year and having seen the game i was surprised to see how positive the feedback was.wake up people look at the stats. benfica ,an ordinary side passed us into the ground.its a sad day when all the liverpool fans on here are delighted after been handed a lesson in real football,not the garbage stuff we play. as we stand here we are in my opinion the sixth best team in england behind city and spurs, and if we didnt have torres and to a lesser extent gerrard we would be an inferior team to everton and villa too.if i was torres and gerrard i would give it til the end of the summer to see the changes and if they arent vast and massive then they should force there way out. lets look at man utd for a second. last night they were beaten in a very entertaining tie in which a few decisions didnt go their way and were ultimately beaten by a wonder goal.nevertheless united are a club similar in size to liverpool but are also a club that will be at the top for a long while longer than liverpool because they will react to this defeat. liverpool got beaten last year yet sold their general (alonso) and replaced him with a player nowhere near alonsos talent. united got beaten this year and i guarentee everyonr that there will be at least 2 or 3 big names moving to united this year in order to get back up there with the barcelonas and the bayerns to a lesser extent. i would like to see liverpool react in such a way. however when i see liverpool being linked with kids like wilson from rangers i think rafa has learned nothing from the twenty odd sub standard layabouts that have come through the door already most of whoma re still there i.e. lucas babel skrtel etc

Posted 01:31 9th April 2010

Ron Cephas (Liverpool fan) says...

Do not forget Lucas is still a very young player; he will mature in due time and do well!

Posted 01:24 9th April 2010

Aryan Patel (Liverpool fan) says...

Great performance, would love it if Rafa can sign a couple of more brazilians. If you want talent, thats where to look! Breno (future brazil CB at 6ft!) and Dentinhio(striker for Corithians). Dont think we need to go over the top with names like Mata and Silva or Villa and waste over 30M on them. We already have future young talents in Pacheco and Amoo. Just a couple of signings and we will be back in the top 2. Just to think Man City had to change there entire team from the back just to make it to the top 5! They must have spent over 135M...

Posted 01:05 9th April 2010

Gavin Roberts (Rangers fan) says...

Well done to Liverpool, a truly fantastic result and performance to go with it! Here's me hoping they can win the trophy, your great fans deserve it!

Posted 00:53 9th April 2010
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