NICE, France — Benfica don carry 2-0 advantage come back to Portugal after dem scatter Nice for their first leg for UEFA Champions League (UCL) third qualifying round. This win mean say Aguias don remain unbeaten for their last 19 matches (W13, D6). E no be play o!
Nice wey finish fourth for Ligue 1 last season, manage qualify come UCL when dem face Benfica for their first competitive meet. As Benfica dey enter this phase of qualification, dem also dey fresh from FIFA Club World Cup, so their sharpness sabi show as dem dey come close for early goal.
But no be rain for Nice as dem also get opportunities wey make dem look like dem wan break the deadlock. One long-range shot around 20 minutes sharp-sharp almost score, but e no fit beat the Benfica goalkeeper, Trubin, who dey fight like lion. And as storm dey gather towards half time, Trubin still stop another serious attempt from Nice. E still dey entertaining as halves go end goalless, but Benfica need to make goal after break if dem wan continue their 20-game scoring streak across all competitions.
As second half start, Nice don gather momentum, but na Benfica wey go take dem unawares. With 53 minutes for clock, dem seize the advantage with one sweet cross from Aursnes wey find Schjelderup and e turn am for net. Diouf wey dey keep goal for Nice try stop Ivanovic’s low drive few minutes later, but the match still dey hard for dem to catch up.
As minutes dey fly, Nice never fit score back as dem hardly trouble Benfica defense. Dem dey try to regroup but the joy no dey last, as Ivanovic come fire one hot shot wey deceive Diouf and land for net, sealing the first leg victory for Benfica. Now Benfica enter second leg with steady confidence, na dem dey look to qualify for UCL knockouts, something wey dem don do three times for last four seasons.
For Nice side, dem get plenty work to do as dem dey face serious uphill task to turn around two-goal deficit wey dey block dem from their first appearance for European competition since 1959/60. No be small wahala o!
Flashscore Man of the Match: Schjelderup. E no dey joke!
