published: thursday 15 february 2007, 0.50cet sl benfica 1-0 fc dinamo 1948 bucuresti
fabrizio miccoli applied the finish benfica had been lacking all night to deny dinamo a draw at the death.
sl benfica gained the advantage against fc dinamo 1948 bucuresti but could yet regret a failure to convert their chances in wednesday's uefa cup round of 32 first-leg tie.
lack of finish a late goal by substitute fabrizio miccoli gave benfica victory and saved them embarrassment after they had missed a series of opportunities and hit the woodwork twice in the second half. mircea rednic's men fought hard to keep out the hosts, who in the end were let down by poor finishing.
profligacy dinamo started brightly and the first opening fell to catalin munteanu in the eighth minute, but his 20-metre effort sailed wide. then cosmin moti threatened with a header which again had too much purchase on it. stung into action, benfica began to assert their dominance. nuno gomes, who had already tested bogdan lobont's reflexes, rattled the post with a first-time shot shortly after the half-hour and the lisbon giants should have edged ahead when konstantinos katsouranis was played through but lacked the necessary composure.
late drama after the break, anderson, rui costa and léo all came close, before simão let fly a 20-metre drive which lobont did well to parry. the portugal winger then fired in a trademark free-kick which came back off the crossbar. but in the 90th minute, just when it seemed the romanian league leaders had done enough to earn a draw, rui costa delivered a perfect cross which miccoli smashed high into the net from ten metres to steal the initiative.
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