Maccabi Haifa 1-6 Benfica: Joao Mario’s late sixth pips PSG to top spot
Benfica #Benfica
Six of Benfica’s nine away goals in this season’s Champions League came against Maccabi
Benfica pipped Paris St-Germain to top spot in Group H on away goals thanks to a late sixth goal at Maccabi Haifa.
PSG thought they had wrapped up the group with a 2-1 victory against Juventus in the other game.
But Joao Mario’s 92nd-minute goal took Benfica level with PSG on points, the clubs’ head-to-head record, goal difference and goals scored.
So away goals in all group games was used to separate them – with Benfica scoring nine to PSG’s six.
Benfica went in at the break at 1-1, with Goncalo Ramos netting before Tjaronn Chery equalised with a penalty.
Petar Musa’s 59th-minute goal sent them on their way, with Alex Grimaldo and Rafa Silva netting before Henrique Araujo put them within touching distance with two minutes to go.
Former West Ham United midfielder Mario hammered a sensational sixth into the bottom corner from 25 yards to seal the remarkable win.
It is the first time in Champions League history that the two top teams in a group have had the same amount of wins, draws, defeats, points, goals scored and goals conceded.
Ramos, who scored Benfica’s opener, said: “We were worried about winning, as always, then we felt that it was possible to reach first place and we went looking for more goals.
“As the game progressed, we saw that it was within our reach. I am very happy to have helped the team with another goal.”
Until then it looked as if Nuno Mendes’ second-half winner for PSG at Juventus would be enough for them to finish top.
Kylian Mbappe gave PSG the lead with a fine solo opener before Leonardo Bonucci equalised for Juventus.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier said: “Firstly, congratulations to Benfica. I have to congratulate my team, my squad too.
“We’ve beaten Juventus twice and we were very happy until the 92nd minute. But if you want to go far in this competition, you have to beat big teams. Let’s wait for the draw and see who we get in the round of 16.”
Juve qualify for the Europa League, with Maccabi out of Europe altogether.
Line-ups Maccabi Haifa
Formation 4-3-3
44Cohen
22Meir30Seck3Goldberg27Cornud
4Muhammad6Lavi16Abu Fani
21David9Pierrot10Chery
Substitutes
Benfica
Formation 4-2-3-1
99Vlachodimos
6Bah66Pereira Albuquerque Tavares Silva30Otamendi3Grimaldo
61Morris Luís8Aursnes
7Neres Campos27Fernandes Ferreira da Silva20João Mário
88Matias Ramos
Substitutes
Live Text
Match ends, Maccabi Haifa 1, Benfica 6.
90’+3′
Second Half ends, Maccabi Haifa 1, Benfica 6.
90’+3′
Omer Atzili (Maccabi Haifa) is shown the yellow card.
90’+2′
Goal! Maccabi Haifa 1, Benfica 6. João Mário (Benfica) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Chiquinho.
90’+2′
Attempt saved. Petar Musa (Benfica) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Henrique Araújo.
90′
Attempt saved. Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top left corner.
89′
Sun Menachem (Maccabi Haifa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
89′
Diogo Gonçalves (Benfica) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89′
Foul by Sun Menachem (Maccabi Haifa).
88′
Substitution, Benfica. Lucas Veríssimo replaces António Silva.
88′
Goal! Maccabi Haifa 1, Benfica 5. Henrique Araújo (Benfica) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alexander Bah with a through ball.
87′
Attempt saved. Diogo Gonçalves (Benfica) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Henrique Araújo.
85′
Mohammad Abu Fani (Maccabi Haifa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
85′
Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
85′
Foul by Mohammad Abu Fani (Maccabi Haifa).
85′
Substitution, Maccabi Haifa. Sun Menachem replaces Pierre Cornud.
82′
Substitution, Benfica. Diogo Gonçalves replaces David Neres.
82′
Substitution, Benfica. Henrique Araújo replaces Rafa.
80′
Attempt saved. Mavis Tchibota (Maccabi Haifa) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
78′
Corner, Maccabi Haifa. Conceded by Petar Musa.
