Benfica’s David Neres scored a superb goal as the Portuguese side reached the Champions League group stage with a 3-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in Lisbon on Tuesday for a 5-0 aggregate win.
Nicolas Otamendi and Rafa Silva also scored in the first half and Benfica never seemed troubled as they made Thursday’s draw as they qualified for the 12th time in 13 seasons.
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Neres scored the opening goal as his deep cross picked out Otamendi, who pulled away from his marker and headed home.
Silva took advantage of a defensive error by intercepting Oleksandr Syrota’s wayward pass and putting in a fine finish.
Goncalo Ramos then picked out Neres, who brilliantly bent the ball into the net to wrap up the score for the home side.
The defeat is a bitter disappointment for Dynamo, who could not book their passage on the day league football returned to war-torn Ukraine.
Maccabi Haifa snatched a 2-2 draw at Red Star Belgrade and progressed to the group stage 5-4 on aggregate after substitute Milan Pavkov’s own goal in the final minute.
Aleksandar Pesic and Mirko Ivanic had given the Serbian side the lead in the draw, but it was in the balance again when Daniel Sundgren netted a goal for Haifa just before half-time.
He appeared to be heading for extra time until the unfortunate Pavkov turned the ball into his own net in the 90th minute. It’s the first time Haifa has reached the group stage since 2009.
Czech side Plzen also booked a place in the lucrative group stage by coming from behind to beat visitors Qarabag 2-1 and claim the tie by the same scoreline on aggregate.
Second-half goals from Jan Kopic and Jan Kliment put Pilsen ahead after Filip Ozobic put the visitors ahead after 38 minutes.
