Eduardo Salvio netted a brace as Benfica hammered PSV Eindhoven 4-1 to put one foot in the Europa League semi-finals.
Salvio, Aimar and Saviola goals put Benfica in control
Eduardo Salvio netted a brace as Benfica hammered PSV Eindhoven 4-1 to put one foot in the Europa League semi-finals.
Pablo Aimar netted the opener (37) in the quarter-final first leg in Portugal before Salvio scored either side of the interval (45, 51).
Substitute Zakaria Labyad climbed off the bench to notch an away goal with ten minutes remaining.
But Javier Saviola smashed the ball into the roof of the net at the death to put the Portuguese well in control of the tie ahead of the return leg in Holland.
Benfica should have been ahead after seven minutes when Saviola hit the post, and the same player came agonisingly close with a neat lob over PSV keeper Andreas Isaksson minutes later.
Superb cross
PSV came close when Balazs Dzsudzsak sent in a superb cross from the left flank and Marcus Berg got in above the static Benfica defence but could only head the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.
Aimar swept Benfica ahead when he struck a shot through Andreas Isaksson's legs and the home side added their second just before the break when Salvio scored after superb work from Fabio Coentrao.
It took only six minutes of the second half for Salvio to grab his second, when he beat two men in the box before firing home. Oscar Cardozo came close as Benfica looked in good shape to move even further in front.
They looked set to pay for their failure to get a fourth when PSV finished strongly and grabbed their away goal when Labyad - who had only been on the pitch for 30 seconds, poked home after a Jeremain Lens effort was parried into his path.
But just when the second leg looked a distinctly healthier option for the Dutchmen they reckoned without Saviola whose brilliant finish leaves his side well in control going into the second leg.
