Champions League
October 23, 2012
Spartak Moscow
2 - 1
Benfica
Group G
16:00 +00:00, October 23, 2012
Luzhniki Stadium
Spartak Moscow 2-1 Benfica
Scoring Summary
| Spartak Moscow | Benfica |
|---|---|
| Rafael Carioca (3') | Lima (32') |
| Jardel (og 43') |
Teams
| Spartak Moscow | Benfica |
|---|---|
| 32 Artyom Rebrov | 1 Artur |
| 17 Marek Suchy | 24 Ezequiel Garay |
| 5 Nicolas Pareja | 33 Jardel |
| 23 Dmitriy Kombarov | 21 Nemanja Matic |
| 34 Evgeniy Makeyev | 25 Lorenzo Melgarejo |
| 19 Jose Jurado | 14 Maxi Pereira |
| 21 Kim Kallstrom | 8 Bruno Cesar |
| 6 Rafael Carioca | 35 Enzo Perez |
| 9 Ari | 19 Rodrigo |
| 49 Zhano Ananidze | 18 Eduardo Salvio |
| 25 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov | 11 Lima |
| Substitutes | |
| 11 Welliton | Óscar Cardozo 7 |
| 7 Kirill Kombarov | Andre Almeida 34 |
| 10 Artem Dzyuba | Paulo Lopes 13 |
| 31 Andriy Dykan | Ola John 15 |
| 41 Vladimir Obukhov | Nicolas Gaitán 20 |
| 4 Emin Makhmudov | Miguel Vitor 27 |
| 3 Sergei Bryzgalov | André Gomes 89 |
| Substitutions | |
| Kirill Kombarov for Zhano Ananidze (57) | Óscar Cardozo for Rodrigo (65) |
| Welliton for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (73) | Nicolas Gaitán for Bruno Cesar (65) |
| Sergei Bryzgalov for Kim Kallstrom (79) | Ola John for Nemanja Matic (89) |
| Yellow Cards | |
| Marek Suchy (45) | Óscar Cardozo (72) |
| Welliton (90) | Nemanja Matic (76) |
| Ari (90) | |
| · Squads: Spartak Moscow | Benfica | |
An impressive first-half display and a brave second-half rearguard earned Spartak Moscow their first Champions League points of the season.
Rafael Carioca rounded off a slick break with a classy finish to give the hosts a third-minute lead and, although Rodrigo Lima headed Benfica level at the Luzhniki Stadium, a Jardel own goal restored Spartak's lead before half-time.
It was all Benfica in the final half-hour but Lima and Eduardo Salvio wasted good chances to equalise.
Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Jose Manuel Jurado were involved in the build-up to the early goal before Rafael Carioca steered the ball inside the far post with the outside of his right foot.
Rodrigo Moreno went close at the other end but his 20-yard drive was turned over the bar by goalkeeper Artem Rebrov, making his European debut.
Spartak should have doubled their lead when Ari, who had already headed wide when well placed, poked against the crossbar from close range.
Kim Kallstrom shot wide for Spartak before blocking Bruno Cesar's effort at the other end, and Rebrov then saved from Nemanja Matic.
But Benfica levelled in the 33rd minute when Lima was left in far too much space at the near post to head in Salvio's cross.
Spartak threatened a stunning second goal when Rafael Carioca backheeled the ball in the air to Zhano Ananidze, but he could not connect properly with his leaping left-foot volley and Jurado also sliced wide.
Benfica keeper Artur Moraes saved from Dmitri Kombarov and Nico Pareja but more fluent passing from Spartak ended with Jardel turning Yevgeni Makeev's cross into his own goal two minutes before half-time.
Ari went close again early in the second half when he dragged the lively Ananidze's low cross behind him towards goal, but he could get no power on the improvised effort and Artur saved comfortably.
Lima was denied by blocks from Rafael Carioca and Marek Suchy and Salvio should have drawn the Portuguese side level when he ran on to Makeev's weak headed back-pass but shot wide.
Pareja prevented Lima getting a shot away after the forward cut in on to his right foot.
Kombarov tracked back just in time to break up another attack and Makeev cleared superbly with Salvio closing in as Spartak held on.