A battling display from Liverpool was rewarded with an away goal, giving the Reds hope that they can still progress to the semi finals of this season's Europa League, despite conceding twice from the penalty spot to lose 2-1 to Portugese outfit Benfica.
Liverpool were forced to fight throughout the match, as they had to play the majority of the game with only 10 men, after Ryan Babel had been sent off in bizarre fashion halfway through the first 45 minutes.
Liverpool were solid at the back, and can take heart from the fact that both goals conceded were from the penalty spot. Despite of their attacking dominance, the home side had to rely on two penalties to score, as the Reds defence managed to remain firm in the face of never-ending attacks from the forward thinking Benfica side.
Liverpool started in the best possible manner, claiming the lead after only 8 minutes had been played. It was a fantastic, well worked goal as well. Gerrard had been tripped on the left hand edge of the penalty area, and was rightly awarded a free kick. The Benfica defence expected Gerrard to put an inswinging cross into the box, but instead he slotted a sqaure pass to Daniel Agger, who found the net with a delightful backheel. It was a wonderful goal that was reminiscent of the Dane's goal in the 2007 Champions League semi final against Chelsea.
It was the perfect goal for Liverpool, which silenced the voracious home crowd, who had created an amazing atmosphere prior to the start of the match.
Benfica responded quickly, pressurising the Reds backline time and time again. Almost immediately after we had taken the lead, Benfica nearly equalised. Angel Di Maria put an impressive ball into the back post, where it was met by Cardozo. Fortunately for Liverpool the ball bounced before it arrived at the feet of the striker, and his shot looped over the net. It was a sign of things to come, as the home side absolutely dominated the rest of the first period, with Liverpool struggling to get out of their own half.
Minutes later, Cardozo spurned another glorious opportunity as he headed tamely into the arms of Pepe Reina, after he had met another cross from the left wing.
Di Maria, the attack minded midfield player, was controlling play, and was Benfica's main threat in attack. His performance last night will only increase the interest of bigger European clubs. It is rumoured that Manchester United, Chelsea and even Liverpool are interested in signing the diminutive 22 year old, however Rafa will almost certainly not be able to afford to sign him, as it is expected that he will be yoked with a "sell to buy" policy once again during the summer transfer window.
Angel Di Maria showed his quality once again when he spread an awesome 40 yard pass across the pitch and to the back post, where the unmarked Ramires headed over. It was disappointing marking from Insua, who looked out of his depth once again last night.
The young Argentine left back certainly has the potential to be a great player, however his performances during the second half of this campaign have been consistently poor, especially defensively, as he has been torn apart time and time again by wingers willing to run at him with pace and trickery. His suspension for next week's return leg is almost a blessing in disguise, as it will stop him being destroyed by the Benfica attack once again.
Shortly before the half hour mark, Di Maria blasted a strike inches over the bar from 25 yards. After this, Liverpool were reduced to 10 men as Ryan Babel was sent off for touching Luisao's face. Luisao had just cynically chopped Torres down from behind, earning himself a yellow card.
According to the Liverpool bench, Babel raised his hand to Luisao's face in an attempt to calm him down, and to stop him talking himself into a second yellow card. This act of generosity from Babel back fired, as he received his marcing orders. By the letter of the law the referee was right to send him off, however it was such a petty offence, undeserving of that sort of extreme punishment.
To make the situation all together more confusing, the referee flashed a yellow card in the directtion of Luisao twice, which seemed to indicate that the Benfica captain had been sent off, however that was not the case, as Mr Eriksson was apparently just confirming the booking. It was a bizarre few minutes, that left Liverpool reeling.
Di Maria continued to pose questions of the Liverpool defence, as he shot just wide of the post after he had received the ball.
Against all odds, Liverpool thought they had doubled their lead on 37 minutes, with only their second chance of the match. Gerrard's free kick from the right was punched clear by the keeper, however the ball fell to the feet of Fernando Torres on the edge of the box. The Spaniard shot and scored, however his goal was disallowed for offside. Kuyt was offside as the ball was played into the box, however it is debateable whether he was active or not.
After that, Torres went close again after Johnson's throw in had set him free in the penalty area, however his weak shot was comfortably collected by Cesar in the Benfica goal.
Liverpool ended the half having to defend for their lives, as a series of long throw ins and corners threatened to breach the Liverpool backline, however the Reds stood strong, and went into the break with a crucial one goal lead.
Cardozo had a golden chance to equalise for the home side soon after the interval, as he headed Di Maria's corner over the bar. The Liverpool defence had given him a free jump, yet somehow he managed to head over from only 6 yards out. It was a poor miss from the number 7, however he wasn't to be denied.
On the hour mark, Cardozo smashed a free kick against the left post. The ball rebounded out to Aimar, who was fouled in the 6 yard box by Emiliano Insua. It was a clear penalty and rightly given. Cardozo stepped up, and confidently struck the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Reina guessed right, however the penalty was well taken, and found the net.
Interestingly, minutes before the Benfia equaliser a flare had been thrown onto the pitch. It nearly hit one of the officials behind the goal. Throughout the second half this continuted to happen.
Now, you would think that UEFA would take action after this unruly, dangerous behaviour from sections of the home support, however my bet is that they will either ignore the situation completely, or they will impose a tiny, insignificant fine. If that was an English club they would almost certainly be thrown out of the competition, or at least forced to play the rest of their games behind closed doors.
Anyway, back to the game, and Liverpool continued to come under severe pressure, as the Benfica manager threw on Nuno Gomes in place of a defender. It was a signal of their desire to score as many as possible in the home leg, as they know that the away leg at Anfield will be much more difficult.
Torres spurned a glorious opportunity to score a second goal for Liverpool that would have really put us in the driving seat going into the second leg at Anfield in a week's time. Torres turned on the halfway line, then played a pass out to Kuyt on the right. Kuyt waited patiently before slotting a wonderful pass through to Torres, which left our star striker one-on-one with the keeper.
As everyone expected to see the net bulge, El Nino disappointingly dragged the ball wide of the left hand post. It was a chance you would expect him to bury, making it even worse when he pulled his strike wide.
With 10 minutes left, Cardozo converted from the penalty spot once again, to break Red hearts. The skillful Di Maria, tricked his way past Johnson, who was actually quite solid in defensive last night, before his attempted cut back from the byline was blocked by the hand of Jamie Carragher.
It was a clear and obvious penalty, no argument. Cardozo camly waited for Reina to dive, before slotting the ball home to give Benfica the lead for the first time in the tie.
Gerrard had a late chance to grab a second goal for Liverpool, however his shot was easily stopped at the near post.
Liverpool now go into the second leg of this tie knowing that a 1-0 win will be good enough to see the Reds through to the semi finals. If we keep it tight at the back, and don't concede an away goal (which is easier said than done as Benfica are a wonderful attacking side) then we should progress, as with Torres and Gerrard returning to form, Liverpool should have no problem scoring goals against anyone, even Benfica's tight defense who, going into the game last night, had conceded just 12 goals all season.
Happy Good Friday, and, as always, YNWA
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