Milambo at the double as Feyenoord surprise Benfica

Teenager Antoni Milambo netted twice as Dutch side Feyenoord sprang a Champions League surprise on Wednesday with a 3-1 away victory at Portuguese giants Benfica.

Benfica went into the match on the back of six successive wins in all competitions but despite a frantic late effort at a comeback came unstuck as Feyenoord put in a confident performance and were deserved winners.

Ayase Ueda got the opener for the Dutch side before Milambo put the visitors 2-0 up at halftime.

Although the hosts pulled one back in the 66th minute through Kerem Akturkoglu, Milambo scored again in stoppage time to make sure of the points.

It was a second away triumph in the group phase for Feyenoord, who won at Spanish club Girona three weeks ago, while Benfica suffered a first loss in this season’s competition, having thumped Atletico Madrid 4-0 and beaten Red Star Belgrade in their opening two matches. Both Feyenoord and Benfica have six points from three games.

ANTONI MILAMBO 🔥🔥 #benfey pic.twitter.com/rV3vBRC90G
— OnsFeyenoord (@OnsFeijenoord) October 23, 2024

The Dutch side, who also had two efforts chalked off after VAR checks, took a 12th-minute lead when Japan international Ueda finished after a swift attack that cut apart the home defence with Igor Paixao delivering a pull back from left wing for Ueda to calmly slot home.

Benfica were denied a quick response when Alexander Bah’s back-post header cannoned back off the upright in the 20th minute before Ueda had the ball in the net for a second time.

His 24th-minute effort, however, was disallowed after a VAR check showed a foul in the build-up from Jordan Lotomba on Benfica captain Nicolas Otamendi.

Milambo made it 2-0 in the 33rd minute at the end of another precise Feyenoord passing move that saw the 19-year-old put the ball through the legs of veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi before finishing expertly.

After Benfica had an effort from Vangelis Pavlidis disallowed for offside, Feyenoord found the net in the 57th minute but Gernot Trauner’s effort was also ruled out for offside.

Benfica pulled one back not long after with a pacy attack through the middle as they outnumbered the visiting defence. Substitute Jan-Niklas Beste’s effort was parried by Feyenoord goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther into the path of Akturkoglu, who made no mistake from close range.

Wellenreuther then made several key saves as Benfica ratcheted up the pressure in the last 20 minutes.

But Feyenoord held firm and Milambo grabbed his second with an expertly placed shot.