Benfica 0-1 Chelsea: Champions League Quarterfinal 1st Leg as It Happened Salomon Kalou’s second-half goal earned Chelsea a 1-0 win against Benfica in Portugal, as the Blues took the advantage in their Champions League quarterfinal first leg.Kalou slotted home from close range on 75 minutes, after fine work from Ramires and Fernando Torres on the right flank.Chelsea had the chance to double their lead soon after, but Juan Mata hit the post after rounding Benfica goalkeeper Artur and leaving himself a tight angle.Hosts Benfica had their chances, but could ultimately find no way past a stubborn Chelsea defence.The teams will reconvene for Cheap Nike Free 3.0 second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.Here’s how the first leg unfolded at the Estadio da Luz. 4:40 PM ET 90+3′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: SO CLOSE TO AN OWN GOAL! Gaitan’s cross is cleared instinctively by Cole, who very, very nearly puts through his own net. 4:34 PM ET 90′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: They’ll be five added minutes. 4:32 PM ET 88′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: Benfica are pushing hard for an equalizer, but they’re leaving themselves very vulnerable at the other end. Don’t bet against another goal in this one. Two minutes plus added time to go. 4:29 PM ET 86′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: Chelsea break with numbers and have a great chance to make it 2-0. Mata with time to pick a pass, but he goes for glory with a lob and the opportunity goes to waste. 4:27 PM ET 84′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: Luiz with a barnstorming run through midfield. He’s crudely brought down, but bizarrely the referee waves away the Nike SB Dunk Pro 4:25 PM ET 82′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: And it’s goalscorer Kalou making way for Sturridge for Chelsea. Seconds later, Nolito shoots just over the bar with a curling effort from 20 yards. 4:24 PM ET 81′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: Another change for Benfica. Nolito replaces Garcia. 4:22 PM ET 78′ – BENFICA 0-1 CHELSEA: Ferreira down with cramp for Chelsea, which is hardly surprising when you consider the amount of game time he’s had recently. 4:19 PM ET 73′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Very quiet in the stadium considering the nature of this contest. A goal for either side now could be crucial for the tie. 4:14 PM ET 70′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Rodrigo slides a pass towards Cardozo. It almost reaches the striker, but Terry’s desperate lunge deflects the ball safely back to Cech. 4:12 PM ET 69′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Former Chelsea man Matic comes on for Aimar for Benfica. Cesar also makes way, for Rodrigo. 4:11 PM ET 68′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Lampard enters the fray to replace Meireles for Chelsea. 4:10 PM ET 66′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Gaitan with a looping cross towards Cesar, which forces Cole to head behind for a corner. Once again the Blues clear their lines. But it comes back in from Gaitan and CECH SAVES JARDEL’S HEADER AT THE FAR POST! 4:07 PM ET 64′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Witsel into Gaitan, who wins a free-kick from Fereira with a sharp turn. Aimar floats a ball in, but Chelsea clear easily. 4:04 PM ET 61′ – 2013 Adidas Predator LZ II 0-0 CHELSEA: MATA HITS THE POST! The Spaniard gets in behind the Benfica defence and rounds Artur.. but he can only hit the upright with his finish from a tight angle. 4:03 PM ET 59′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Nice build-up play from Chelsea, spreading the ball across from left to right. But Ferreira’s curling cross is all too easily gathered by Artur. Plays goes straight up the other end and Benfica want a penalty for handball when Terry blocks a cross. Replays show it hit his hand, but never a penalty. 3:59 PM ET 57′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Cardozo tries another shot from distance. Once again straight at Cech. 3:58 PM ET 55′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA:Gaitan with two chances to cross from the left. The second finds Garcia, but he can only head over under pressure from Chelsea defenders. 3:56 PM ET 52′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: GREAT CHANCE FOR KALOU FOR CHELSEA! Torres picks him out with a cross from the left, but Kalou can only head over from six yards. 3:55 PM ET 49′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Very strong start to the second half from the home side. Gaitan’s cross finds Garcia, who heads into the hands of Cech. 3:53 PM ET 48′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: Cardozo fires a shot on target and Luiz does well to block! Benfica want handball, but the referee waves them away. 3:51 PM ET 46′ – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: And we’re away with the second half. Aimar with a great early run at Luiz, who is lucky not be booked for a foul. 3:32 PM ET HALFTIME – BENFICA 0-0 CHELSEA: The whistle goes in Lisbon and the teams goes in level at 0-0. Fairly open, fairly even game. Not much in the way of goal-scoring opportunities.Load more posts
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