Eran Zahavi scored a brace as Hapoel Tel-Aviv claimed their first Champions League group win against Benfica.
Zahavi brace and Douglas effort ends Benfica qualification hopes
Eran Zahavi scored a brace as Hapoel Tel-Aviv claimed their first UEFA Champions League group win and ended Benfica's last 16 qualification hopes.
Zahavi's deflected header from a free-kick put the hosts ahead on 24 minutes before Douglas Da Silva added a scrambled goal from a corner with 16 minutes remaining and Zahavi then hit an injury time third to make sure of the win.
Hapoel's victory meant Schalke and Lyon qualified for the last 16 after the German side won 3-0 in Group B's other game on Wednesday.
Benfica started brightly and Alan Kardec had the first shot of the game but his effort from the edge of the box went past Vincent Enyeama's right post on two minutes.
Javier Saviola's effort was saved by Enyeama while Nicolas Galtan's long range shot was easily dealt with by the keeper as the Portuguese side continued to press.
Teed up
Hapoel came more into the game and Gil Vermouth was teed up by Zahavi but his low effort from 25 yards went just wide of Roberto's right post.
The hosts then took the lead on 24 minutes when Zahavi's header from Shay Abutbul's free-kick was deflected in by David Luiz.
Kardec shot just wide of Enyeama's left post soon afterwards before Saviola had the ball in the net with a simple tap in but Kardec was given offside in the build up, although replays showed the goal should have stood.
Oscar Cardozo came on for Saviola at the start of the second period as Benfica tried to get back into the game and the Portuguese again began brightly, with Eduardo Salvio's cross from the right byline gathered by Enyeama in the box.
Luisao's header from a corner was headed off the line by Abutbul before Javi Garcia's flick from another corner was again cleared off near the line by Abutbul.
Golden opportunity
As Benfica continued to press, the unmarked Kardec missed a golden opportunity when heading wide from four yards on 64 minutes.
The visitors were made to pay when Douglas scrambled the ball into the net on 74 minutes from a corner.
Benfica substitute Carlos Martins hit a powerful long range effort late on but Enyeama was able to save and Hapoel made sure of the points through Zahavi's injury-time strike from ten yards to claim an historic win and break the visitors' hearts.
Hapoel are now two points behind third-placed Benfica in the race for the Europa League qualification spot ahead of their last Group B games on 7th December.
| Hapoel Tel Aviv |
Team Statistics |
Benfica |
| 3 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 6 |
Shots on Target |
5 |
| 4 |
Shots off Target |
11 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
9 |
| 2 |
Corners |
21 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
17 |
| 8 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 73.4 |
Passing Success |
78 |
| 35 |
Tackles |
17 |
| 80 |
Tackles Success |
70.6 |
| 42.1 |
Possession |
57.9 |
| 31 |
Territorial Advantage |
69 |
|
