Strachan left in the dark in Stadium of Light by late Cardozo goal

13 April 2012

Celtic had a precious Group D point snatched from their grasp in the Stadium of Light as Benfica produced a winner three minutes from time.

Celtic more than matched the home side in the first half. But Oscar Cardozo hit the woodwork twice in a minute just after the hour mark before finally finding a way through in the 87th minute

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No way through: Leo blocks Scott Brown

He beat the offside trap to knock the ball past Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc and extend the Glasgow side's poor away record.

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus, carried off on a stretcher with concussion during the 3-0 defeat by Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday, recovered to take his place in the centre of defence.

Shunsuke Nakamura and Evander Sno were replaced by Aiden McGeady and Paul Hartley, fit again after a hamstring injury, in midfield, while striker Scott McDonald surprisingly started on the bench, his lone role up front being taken by Chris Killen.

The Portuguese side had the best of the early stages, with Cardozo missing a good chance in the 23rd minute after McGeady's back pass with his head was intercepted by Leo.

But the Scottish champions grew in confidence and midfielder Massimo Donati went close after Killen had found him inside the penalty area with a flicked header.

Benfica also started the second half brightly, and Boruc pulled off a great save from a point-blank Cardozo header in the 50th minute.

Killen latched on to a McGeady cut-back at the near post in the 56th minute, but his effort finished in the sidenetting.

Cardozo blasted an effort against the bar from close range in the 63rd minute after Boruc had parried a Rodriguez drive and, moments later, Cardozo also hit a post.

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