Liverpool were undone by two penalties as Benfica edged the Reds at the Stadium of Light. Agger scored first, but two goals from Cardozo from the spot, after Babel was sent-off for the Merseysiders, earned the home side a 2-1 first-leg lead ahead of the return-leg at Anfield in a week time.

The visitors got off to a great start with a goal on nine minutes. Liverpool took the lead through an unlikely source as a Steven Gerrard freekick from just outside the box was cheekily back-heeled into the net by Agger.

The Eagles tried to get back on level terms immediately, but a shot from Di Maria was easily saved by Reina, before the keeper produced another save, this time from Oscar Cardozo whose header was straight at the Spaniard.

Cardozo had earlier headed over a Di Maria cross as Benfica pushed forward in search of an equaliser.

The Merseysiders were reduced to ten-men just before the half hour mark as Babel was shown a straight red card. Fernando Torres was on the receiving end of a harsh challenge from Luisao out by the half-way line, and in the pushing and shoving that ensued between rival players, Babel was penalised by the referee.

The initial challenge on Torres was worthy of a red card, but it was Liverpool who were forced to play the remainder of the first-leg with one man less.

Despite playing with ten-men, the Reds continued to pose Benfica problems at the back. Torres ran onto a throw-in from Johnson but the striker was challenged by the last defender just as he was about to let fly.

Liverpool’s top scorer had the ball in the back of the net on 36 minutes but the goal was disallowed for offside. A punched clearance from Julio Cesar was turned into the net by Torres, but the linesman raised his flag.

Benfica levelled after the break from the spot. Cardozo struck the post from outside the box with a free-kick and in the scramble that followed Insua was penalised for a foul on Pablo Aimar. Pepe Reina guessed right, but Cardozo’s shot squeezed in the bottom corner.

Fernando Torres was having to battle it out alone with the Benfica back four, but the striker was posing the home defence all sorts of problems. Wary of the threat posed by Torres, Benfica were not allowing the forward to turn, regularly fouling the striker whenever he got the ball.

The Portuguese outfit grabbed the lead on 79 minutes. The referee pointed to the spot after the ball had struck Carragher’s arm, the handball wasn’t intentional but up stepped Cardozo to make it 2-1.

The Red number ‘9’ was substituted by coach Rafa Benitez with eight minutes remaining as Liverpool looked to a fresh pair of legs for the closing minutes.

The Merseysiders now need to overturn the slender defeat at Anfield on April 8 to seal a place in the semis.


- Match Stats: Benfica 2-1 Liverpool

Benfica: Julio Cesar, Maxi Pereira (Nuno Gomes, 66) Luisao, David Luiz, Fabio Coentrao, Javi Garcia, Ramires, Carlos Martins (Ruben Amorim, 72), Di Maria, Aimar (Airton, 86), Cardozo

Booked: Luisao, David Luiz

Goals: Cardozo 59 pen, 79 pen

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard (Benayoun, 90) Babel, Torres (Ngog, 82)

Booked: Insua, Reina, Carragher

Sent-off: Babel 29

Goals: Agger 9