Europe League results: Benfica 3-1 Newcastle

Benfica put in impressive second-half performance as they came from behind to cruise past Newcastle 3-1 in the Europe League quarter-finals first leg at Estádio da Luz.

Papis Cisse scored the opening goal with a simple close-range finish in the 12th minute of the game. Rodrigo restored the parity scoring on the rebound after Cardozo’s shot has been parried by Krul in the 25th minute. Lima capitalized on Santon’s mistake to take it round the keeper and send the ball into the net from a tight angle. Cardozo converted the penalty to round off Benfica’s victory in the 71st minute.

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew attempted to put a good face on the matter, stating his side delivered a decent performance and deserved better. “They are a good side, there is no doubt about that, but for long periods in that game we were comfortable. I was overjoyed with the performance but not the result, and that probably sums up my feelings. I thought on another given day we could have got a much better result, for sure.

“I thought we probably had them where we wanted them just before their second goal and then it is two poor goals on our part. We are disappointed with the result, because of the performance level. In some parts of the game we played very, very well,” he added.