Europa League: Benfica draws with Shakhtar
Benfica was the last Portuguese team to play yesterday, and also the last one to leave the competition.
Benfica drew this Thursday at Estádio da Luz, against Shakhtar (3-3) and said goodbye to the Europa League. A draw that tasted like defeat, since in the combination of both hands, the Ukrainian team won 5-4.
Despite starting well, with a goal after nine minutes, Benfica suffered two minutes later. A scenario that was repeated in the second half, after Rafa’s goal to open the second half.
Offensively, Bruno Lage’s team did well, created opportunities were effective in finishing, but a team that wants to have a European dimension should not – nor can – concede two goals right after they hit. The Eagles showed defensive disorganization, inattention in the markings and, this, it was not only in the goals scored.
What is certain is that the Luz team was eliminated from the Europa League, in an unprecedented record. It is that until now, since the current format of the competition, Benfica had never fallen in the first round.
