Diaz stars for Liverpool in 3-1 win over Benfica in CL

Tue, Apr 5, 2022
Soccer News (AP)

LISBON (AP) - Luis Diaz set up one goal and scored himself in the 87th minute on his emphatic return to Portugal to lead Liverpool to a 3-1 win over Benfica in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday.

The Colombia international played for Benfica's big rival, Porto, until he was signed by Liverpool in January so was probably the last player the home fans wanted to see celebrate what could prove to be a crucial third goal for the English club.

Running onto Naby Keita's deflected through-ball, Diaz rounded the goalkeeper and slotted the ball into the unguarded net before wheeling away in joy in front of the whistling Benfica supporters at the Estadio da Luz.

Diaz played a big part in Liverpool's second goal, nodding down a pinpoint long pass by Trent Alexander-Arnold to allow Sadio Mane to tap home from close range in the 34th. That built on Liverpool's opener scored by Ibrahima Konate - the center back's first for the club - at a corner in the 17th minute.

Benfica could easily have been further behind by halftime, but took the game more to the English team in the second half and Darwin Nunez capitalized on a mistake by Konate to pull a goal back in the 49th.

There were a few more rocky moments for Liverpool - in one of them, goalkeeper Alisson Becker was almost dispossessed on the edge of his area by Rafa Silva - before Diaz's strike ensured Jurgen Klopp's team would clinch a fifth straight win in all competitions.

The Reds passed the latest test in their bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, with the semifinals now in sight. They have already won the English League Cup, are in the semifinals of the FA Cup, and are one point behind leader Manchester City in the Premier League.

Klopp even took the option of bringing off star attackers Mane and Mohamed Salah in the 61st minute, perhaps with the league showdown against City on Sunday in mind.

City also will go into that game on the back of a win in Tuesday's other quarterfinal, 1-0 over Atletico Madrid.

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