An early purpose from winger Kerem Akturkoglu and an outstanding free-kick by his fellow Turkey worldwide Orkun Kokcu earned Benfica a 2-1 Champions League victory at Pink Star Belgrade on Thursday.
Akturkoglu opened the scoring for the Portuguese aspect within the ninth minute, changing a cross from shut vary on the again submit.
His compatriot Kokcu then doubled their benefit simply earlier than the half-hour mark with a meticulously positioned free-kick from 25 yards out, selecting out the top-right nook.
Pink Star diminished the deficit when Felicio Milson was performed by and scored from shut vary 4 minutes from time, however they have been unable to search out an equaliser on the loss of life.
FT: Crvena Zvezda 1-2 Benfica
Crvena Zvezda have now conceded 2+ targets in 15 of their 19 UEFA Champions League video games.
This was their fifteenth defeat in these 19 matches (79%) – solely Malmo have misplaced a larger proportion (83%) amongst groups to play in three editions. pic.twitter.com/n5d42WBiSM
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) September 19, 2024
Information Debrief: Turkish first for Benfica
Objectives from Akturkoglu and Kokcu ensured this was the primary time two Turkish gamers had ever scored for a non-Turkish membership in a Champions League match.
Kokcu, in the meantime, is on his solution to incomes a status as a dead-ball specialist.
Because the starting of the 2021-22 season, no participant has scored extra direct free-kick targets in main European competitions than Kokcu’s two, with this his first within the Champions League.
