Giovanni Trapattoni made a winning start to his first Portuguese Superleague campaign at the helm of SL Benfica, watching his new charges triumph 3-2 away against SC Beira-Mar on Sunday.Three goals in eight minutes either side of the break had given Benfica a handsome lead but an incredible comeback seemed on the cards once Antolín Alcaraz and Beto had significantly reduced the arrears with 22 frantic minutes left to play. Ultimately, though, a double strike from Azar Karadas punctuated by Petit's goal proved just enough for Trapattoni's men.– Paulo Sérgio; Ribeiro, Filipe, Alcaraz (Tininho 87m) e Mário Loja; Sandro, Beto, Marcelinho (Levato 61m) e Rui Lima (Pablo Rodriguez 81m); Kingsley e McPhee– Moreira; Miguel, Ricardo Rocha, Luisão e Fyssas; Petit e Manuel Fernandes; João Pereira (Amoreirinha 73m), Zahovic (Paulo Almeida 86m), Simão (cap.) e Karadas.Karadas 41´ (0-1), Petit 45´(0-2), Karadas 49´ (0-3), Alcaraz 62’ (1-3), Beto 68’ (2-3)Source: slbenfica.pt, Uefa.com
Giovanni Trapattoni made a winning start to his first Portuguese Superleague campaign at the helm of SL Benfica, watching his new charges triumph 3-2 away against SC Beira-Mar on Sunday.Three goals in eight minutes either side of the break had given Benfica a handsome lead but an incredible comeback seemed on the cards once Antolín Alcaraz and Beto had significantly reduced the arrears with 22 frantic minutes left to play. Ultimately, though, a double strike from Azar Karadas punctuated by Petit's goal proved just enough for Trapattoni's men.– Paulo Sérgio; Ribeiro, Filipe, Alcaraz (Tininho 87m) e Mário Loja; Sandro, Beto, Marcelinho (Levato 61m) e Rui Lima (Pablo Rodriguez 81m); Kingsley e McPhee– Moreira; Miguel, Ricardo Rocha, Luisão e Fyssas; Petit e Manuel Fernandes; João Pereira (Amoreirinha 73m), Zahovic (Paulo Almeida 86m), Simão (cap.) e Karadas.Karadas 41´ (0-1), Petit 45´(0-2), Karadas 49´ (0-3), Alcaraz 62’ (1-3), Beto 68’ (2-3)Source: slbenfica.pt, Uefa.com