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Bordeaux
Europa League | Round-of-16
Mar 14, 2013 at 8.05pm UK
 
Benfica

2-3

Live Commentary: Bordeaux (2) 2-3 (4) Benfica - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live coverage of tonight's Europa League clash between Bordeaux and Benfica.
2

Benfica advanced to the last eight of the Europa League as they beat Bordeaux in a five-goal thriller at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

The visitors held a 1-0 lead over the French side going into the game thanks to Cedric Carrasso's own goal in the first leg.

There were goals aplenty as the battled it out to reach the quarter-finals. Read how all the action unfolded in our minute-by-minute commentary below.


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Good evening folks, thanks for joining us for this evening's Europa League clash between Bordeaux and Benfica from the Stade Chaban Delmas.

The team news has just broken and we'll begin with the hosts.

BORDEAUX XI: Carrasso, Mariano, Sane, Henrique, Tremoulinas, Plasil, Sertic, Saivet, Obraniak, Maurice-Belay, Diabate

So Francis Gillot makes two changes to his side that lost last week. The big news is that striker Cheikh Diabate is back in the lineup along with Henri Saivet. They replace Julien Faubert and Diego Rolan.

The French side had some great chances last week but didn't have the poacher they need in front of goal. We'll see if Diabate can make the difference tonight.

BENFICA XI: Artur; Melgarejo, Jardel, Roderick, Andre Almeida; Matic, Perez, Gaitán; Ola John, Salvio, Rodrigo Moreno

BIG NEWS! Jorge Jesus is without central defenders Ezequiel Garay and Luisao. Both were important last week in shutting out the Ligue 1 side. How will their absence be felt tonight?

No Oscar Cardozo either for Benfica as he's left on the bench along with Carlos Martins, who started last week in four changes to last week's team.

Here are the substitutes in full for both sides, starting with Bordeaux.

BORDEAUX SUBS: Olimpa, Marange, Planus, Ben Khalfallah, Poko, Poundje, Sacko

Check out the in-play odds with William Hill

BENFICA SUBS: Paulo Lopes, Maxi Pereira, Miguel Vitor, Aimar, Cardozo, Martins, Lima.

Let's break out some stats now!

Benfica are unbeaten in their last six European fixtures and have kept clean sheets in their last two away games in the Europa League.

Bordeaux are unbeaten in their last 13 home games in Europe, winning 11 of them. Their last defeat at home in Europe came in the 2008-9 season against AS Roma.

Cedric Carrasso feels his side's performance will have to be perfect tonight. He told reporters: "We know what we need to do to win. Sure, Benfica have greater potential than Bastia. It will be tough. But we got back to winning ways in the league, and now we need to do the same in Europe - which means scoring goals and not conceding any. We know what to expect. Our performance will need to be complete - perfect - if we are to qualify. It will be a great night, I hope."

UPDATE! Inter Milan have levelled the tie in their Europa League clash with Tottenham Hotspur. A William Gallas own goal makes it 3-0 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate. It looks like that game is heading into extra time.

Just a reminder folks kickoff is 8.05pm GMT at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

Some more info on Garay and Luisao. Garay is out with a shoulder injury while Luisao is missing a groin strain. With Diabate back in action for Bordeaux their absence could be huge in the context of the tie.

As we approach kickoff, it's prediction time. Bordeaux could have the beating of Benfica here due to the absence of their starting centre-backs. Expect Diabate to be influential tonight along with Ludovic Obraniak.

The teams are out at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

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We're underway in Bordeaux.

Early chance for Bordeaux to put some pressure on the visitors but Obraniak's free kick is cleared away without creating any danger.

Poor defending from Ludovic Sane almost presents an opportunity for Salvio but Henrique is there to back him up and clear the danger.

End-to-end opening as Diabate lifts his header just over the bar from Mariano's cross into the penalty area.

Benfica have seen their fair share of the ball so far, but have yet to make use of it. A lot of short passes at the back.

Decent opening for the hosts as Nicolas Maurice-Belay finds space down the left, his low cross is cleared well by Roderick and from the follow-up Artur claims Benoît Tremoulinas looped effort.

There's quite an atmosphere being built by the home fans inside the Stade Chaban Delmas.

CHANCE! Maurice-Belay is inches from giving Bordeaux the lead as his strike goes just past the post, with Artur making a good save. The winger had jinked past Andre Almedia with ease in the build-up.

Carrasso has to be sharp off his line to stop Rodrigo reaching Perez's through ball, gathering it at the second attempt. That was almost disastrous defending from Francis Gillot's side.

It's been quite a tepid start from the hosts considering they're behind in the tie. Usually teams come out of the blocks quickly to restore parity as soon as possible. Maybe we're seeing a patient approach.

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SAVE! Carrasso comes up big for the hosts as he denies Salvio from close range after he was put through one on one. The striker tried to guide it into the net put the keeper stuck out a boot and made the stop. Could be a crucial moment in the game.

How crucial could that save by Carrasso be? If Benfica had scored there, Bordeaux would have needed three goals to go through.

Benfica look good on the counter-attack. They've broken with pace every time the hosts have misplaced a pass. Ola John has been involved a lot down the left, he just needs to improve his quality in the final third and his side could have some success.

GOAL! Bordeaux 0-1 Benfica (Jardel)

Benfica take the lead on the night and get a precious away goal as Jardel rises highest from a corner to head into an net, after Carrasso came for the ball and missed it.

That goal is massive and hands a huge advantage to the away side in the tie. Bordeaux now need three goals to progress.

Carrasso is at fault for the goal. He came way off his line to punch the ball and missed, allowing Jardel to head into an empty net.

CHANCE! Bordeaux nearly respond straight away as Diabate gets the better of his marker and fires a low effort at goal but Artur tips the ball round the post for a corner.

The resulting corner is cleared but only as far as Mariano, who tries to lash a volley at goal, but misses the ball completely. That sums up Bordeaux's evening so far.

UPDATE! Tottenham Hotspur have reached the quarter-finals of the competition after beating Inter Milan in their tie on away goals. Despite losing 4-1 tonight at the San Siro.

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Bordeaux's delivery from set pieces hasn't been good tonight as yet another corner from Obraniak fails to beat the first man. Benfica haven't been tested much so far.

Another example of Bordeaux's struggles in the final third. Diabate controls the ball in the penalty area with this back to goal, he tries to lay the ball off to Saivet but his two-yard pass is off target.

CHANCE! Henrique releases Diabate with a lovely ball over the top of the Benfica defence. He twists and turns and fires at goal but his shot is inches wide of post with Artur beaten.

That's the closest the hosts have come. They'll need a few more moments like that if they are to get back into this game.

HALF-TIME: Bordeaux 0-1 Benfica

Benfica lead at the break and deservedly so. They've been more clinical in the final third of the pitch and have defended solidly against the threat of Diabate. Bordeaux looked a little short of ideas as the half progressed. They need three goals to advanced to the last eight.

UPDATES! It's 1-1 between Chelsea and Steaua Bucuresti in their tie at Stamford Bridge, but Steaua hold a 2-1 aggregate lead. Meanwhile, it's still 0-0 between Newcastle United and Anzhi Makhachkala in their clash at St James' Park.

If you fancy checking out what happened in the Chelsea game, read our HT report here. Or our Newcastle HT report can be found here.

The teams are back out in Bordeaux.

We're back underway at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

Check out the in-play odds with William Hill

No changes for either side of the break.

SHOT! Diabate's effort is closed down by Jardel in the penalty area, after Saivet had done well down right for the hosts. A poor ball into the area by Tremoulinas ends Gillot's side's attack.

CHANCE! Gregory Sertic reacts to a loose ball in the box, instead of shooting he tries to find Diabate at the back post. But he overhits his pass and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

It's chances like that that Bordeaux need to take, and Sertic's execution there was so poor. He almost had too much time to think about what he was going to do.

SHOT! A promising attack from Bordeaux is grounded to a halt when Jaroslav Plasil shoots from distance as his shot trickles into the hands of Artur.

INTERVENTION! Henrique makes a crucial intervention to stop Almeida in his tracks after he skinned Sane on the right on his way to goal.

Benfica have taken the pace out of the game at the minute and seem content just to keep possession. There's no need for them to take any risks at this moment in time, with such a comfortable lead.

Sertic lifts the ball into the path of Diabate who lifts his boot to control the ball but fouls Melgarejo. That looked quite similar to the foul that saw Nani sent off in the Champions League last week.

Benfica are defending extremely well as yet another opening for Bordeaux is snuffed out as Jardel beats Diabate in the air, in a 50/50 ball from Obraniak's cross.

SHOT! Sertic drives forward from midfield and fires a shot at goal but his effort flies well over the crossbar.

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SUBSTITUTION: Change for Benfica, Rodrigo is replaced by Cardozo.

SUBSTITUTION: Change for Bordeaux now as Poko replaces Sertic.

SHOT! Poko nearly makes an impact straight away but he can't get his effort on target. Time is running out for the home side.

SUBSTITUTION: Bordeaux are ringing the changes now in a last roll of the dice, as Ben Khalfallah replaces Mariano.

SAVE! Plasil does well down the left and lifts the ball into Diabate, who heads at goal, but Artur is there to make the save.

GOAL! Bordeaux 1-1 Benfica (Diabate)

Bordeaux are back in this game as a long hopeful ball up to Diabate is knocked into his stride by Almeida and he makes no mistake firing a low volley past Artur. Game on!

GOAL! Bordeaux 1-2 Benfica (Cardozo)

Benfica score and it's Cardozo who has got the goal with a simple low finish past Carrasso after he latched onto Nicolas Gaitan's through ball. That all but seals the tie for the visitors.

Such a shame for Bordeaux to get back in the game and then within a minute concede again which all but puts them out of the competition. Benfica have shown their predatory instincts once again tonight however.

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SUBSTITUTION: Final sub for the home side as Maurice-Belay goes off and is replaced by Sacko.

Bordeaux have the look of a side who've given up. They aren't pressing to get the ball back and they know it's too late for them now.

SUBSTITUTION: Change for Benfica as Carlos Martins comes on to replace Ola John.

CHANCE! Another hopeful long ball lands at the feet of a Bordeaux striker, this time it's Sacko. However, he can't put his left-footed shot on target as he fires wide of the post.

SUBSTITUTION: Final change for Benfica as Maxi Pereira replaces Salvio.

YELLOW CARD: Maxi Pereira picks up a yellow card for simulation.

GOAL! Bordeaux 2-2 Benfica (Jardel og)

GOAL! Bordeaux 2-3 Benfica (Cardozo)

Two goals in a minute!! First Jardel turns the ball into his own net from a corner after Artur had made an excellent save to deny Diabate. Then seconds later, Cardozo beat Henrique before slotting the ball past Carrasso to ensure his side's places in the last eight of the competition.

FULL-TIME: Bordeaux (2) 2-3 (4) Benfica

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What an entertaining end to the game. Benfica go through to the last eight of the Europa League but Bordeaux gave them a scare at the end. Oscar Cardozo showed his quality with two well taking goals which was enough to secure his side the win at the Stade Chaban Delmas.

UPDATES! All three English sides have progressed tonight as Chelsea overcame Steaua Bucuresti at Stamford Bridge. While a late Papiss Cisse strike gave Newcastle the win over Anzhi Makhachkala. Drama everywhere.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole's live coverage this evening. Make sure you stick with us for all the reaction and news this evening. Until next time, goodbye.

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