Played
November 20, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (da Luz) — Lisboa
Referee: V. Kassai
Attendance: 47065
November 20, 2012 2:45 PM EST
Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (da Luz) — Lisboa
Referee: V. Kassai
Attendance: 47065
Top of the Match
Ola John
Benfica
Benfica
Ezequiel Garay
Benfica
Benfica
Flop of the Match
Joe Ledley
Celtic
Celtic
Scott Brown
Celtic
Celtic
Goal.com Rating 
Fans' Rating Benfica 2-1 Celtic: Garay winner sends qualification race down to the wire
The Bhoys go down to defeat in Portugal, with the second qualification place in Group G still up for grabs in the final round of matches between them and tonight's opponents
By Chris Teale
Getty
Celtic must wait until its final Champions League group game to try and secure qualification to the knockout stage after a 2-1 defeat away to Benfica.
The home side went ahead early in the first half thanks to Ola John but the Bhoys found an equalizer despite having little of the play thanks to a header from Georgios Samaras.
The second period saw Benfica exert even more pressure on the away side, with Ezequiel Garay scoring the crucial goal in the 70th minute.
Benfica welcomed back Luisao into the center of defense after his 11-game ban, while the highly-rated Oscar Cardozo made his first Champions League start of the season.
Meanwhile, Celtic made three changes from the side that beat Aberdeen, with Joe Ledley, Scott Brown and Gary Hooper all overcoming injuries to start.
The home side began the game confidently and took the lead in just the sixth minute as John pounced and drove the ball home after Celtic was unable to clear its lines.
Having gone behind, the Bhoys began to look somewhat nervous on the ball, struggling to keep possession and unable to create any clear openings of their own.
The home side was playing an attacking brand of football and came forward regularly but it struggled to break down a solid Celtic defense.
It took until the 29th minute for Benfica to create another chance, as Cardozo latched on to a through-ball and sent it wide with his left foot from six yards out.
Moments later, the away side was level, as a Charlie Mulgrew corner was headed home superbly at the back post by Samaras to give Celtic an equalizer.
However, despite some sustained pressure from the home side as it laid siege to Celtic’s goal, the halftime whistle sounded with the scores level.
The second half began with some unfortunate news for Celtic, as Mulgrew was forced to be substituted at halftime due to illness and was replaced by Beram Kayal.
The Bhoys were immediately on the back foot and had Adam Matthews to thank for keeping the scores level in the 52nd minute as he cleared Lima’s shot off the line.
The away side was placed under a great deal of pressure by Benfica’s attacking players, with Luisao shooting just over after a corner caused havoc in Celtic’s penalty area.
The Bhoys were enjoying their best moments from set pieces, with substitute Kris Commons showcasing some superb deliveries that were just about dealt with.
Benfica’s pressure told in the 70th minute as a knock-down from Luisao was powered home by Garay on the volley as they took the lead again.
Just three minutes later, the home side could have been out of sight but Salvio’s superb dipping shot from outside the area struck the crossbar with Forster beaten.
However, with Victor Wanyama picking up a late booking meaning he is suspended for the game away to Spartak Moscow, Celtic could not find an equalizer and was defeated.
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The home side went ahead early in the first half thanks to Ola John but the Bhoys found an equalizer despite having little of the play thanks to a header from Georgios Samaras.
The second period saw Benfica exert even more pressure on the away side, with Ezequiel Garay scoring the crucial goal in the 70th minute.
Benfica welcomed back Luisao into the center of defense after his 11-game ban, while the highly-rated Oscar Cardozo made his first Champions League start of the season.
Meanwhile, Celtic made three changes from the side that beat Aberdeen, with Joe Ledley, Scott Brown and Gary Hooper all overcoming injuries to start.
The home side began the game confidently and took the lead in just the sixth minute as John pounced and drove the ball home after Celtic was unable to clear its lines.
Having gone behind, the Bhoys began to look somewhat nervous on the ball, struggling to keep possession and unable to create any clear openings of their own.
The home side was playing an attacking brand of football and came forward regularly but it struggled to break down a solid Celtic defense.
It took until the 29th minute for Benfica to create another chance, as Cardozo latched on to a through-ball and sent it wide with his left foot from six yards out.
Moments later, the away side was level, as a Charlie Mulgrew corner was headed home superbly at the back post by Samaras to give Celtic an equalizer.
However, despite some sustained pressure from the home side as it laid siege to Celtic’s goal, the halftime whistle sounded with the scores level.
The second half began with some unfortunate news for Celtic, as Mulgrew was forced to be substituted at halftime due to illness and was replaced by Beram Kayal.
The Bhoys were immediately on the back foot and had Adam Matthews to thank for keeping the scores level in the 52nd minute as he cleared Lima’s shot off the line.
The away side was placed under a great deal of pressure by Benfica’s attacking players, with Luisao shooting just over after a corner caused havoc in Celtic’s penalty area.
The Bhoys were enjoying their best moments from set pieces, with substitute Kris Commons showcasing some superb deliveries that were just about dealt with.
Benfica’s pressure told in the 70th minute as a knock-down from Luisao was powered home by Garay on the volley as they took the lead again.
Just three minutes later, the home side could have been out of sight but Salvio’s superb dipping shot from outside the area struck the crossbar with Forster beaten.
However, with Victor Wanyama picking up a late booking meaning he is suspended for the game away to Spartak Moscow, Celtic could not find an equalizer and was defeated.
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Does this article fire you up? Comment below and your opinion could be featured in the Boost Mobile Hot Topics published every Thursday. Click here for more details.
Goal
Own Goal
Penalty
Penalty Missed
Yellow Card
Assist
Penalty Save
Penalty Shootout Goal
Penalty Shootout Miss
Yellow Card / Red Card
Red Card
Substitution IN
Substitution OUT
Injury
Goal.com Rating
Goal.com Man of the Match
Goal.com Flop of the Match
Top & Flop Global Ranking
Fans' Man of the Match
Fans' Flop of the Match
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cristiano Ronaldo Striker Real Madrid |
12 | 0 |
|
Robert Lewandowski Striker Borussia Dortmund |
10 | 1 |
|
Thomas Müller Striker FC Bayern München |
8 | 1 |
|
Lionel Messi Striker Barcelona |
8 | 0 |
|
Burak Yılmaz Striker Galatasaray |
8 | 0 |
