Metalist scavenge victory in Lisbon

FC Metalist Kharkiv stole top spot in Group B from Galatasaray AŞ after substitute Olexandr Rykun scored a late goal to earn the Ukrainians a surprising 1-0 win at SL Benfica.

Maximum return
The Lisbon side needed to score a hatful of goals to have any chance of progressing to the UEFA Cup Round of 32, but failed to register even once, while Metalist moved to the top of the section with a win. Myron Markevich's side secured maximum value for the three goals they scored in the section, with three 1-0 wins and a 0-0 draw in their four Group B fixtures.

Benfica pressure
Quique Sánchez Flores' side could have had an opening goal after just seven minutes when Nuno Gomes set up Urreta but the forward managed to pull his shot wide from point-blank range. Benfica signalled their intent to shoot on sight two minutes later when Fellipe Bastos tried his luck from a free kick more than 30 metres out, drawing a save out of Metalist keeper Olexandr Goriainov.

Near misses
Ruslan Fomin headed narrowly over the bar following a corner for the visitors, but it was Benfica who produced the best chance of the first half, as Urreta received a headed pass in the box from Óscar Cardozo and fired a shot onto the bar. Nuno Gomes then presented Maxi Pereira with another fine chance five minutes before the break but Goriainov pulled off a great save to turn the shot round the post.

On the break
With Olympiacos CFP beating Hertha BSC Berlin in the night's other Group B tie, Benfica's tiny chance of qualifying disappeared, and they looked notably less hungry after the break. Cardozo twice shot wide, but his side looked listless. Then, with six minutes left, Metalist hit them on the break, with Marko Dević playing Rykun in from the right and the midfielder finding the target.