Less than a minute remaining...one last throw of the dice for AEK.
90' +1
AEK cannot just get going since the goal. They were flying until Semedo's strike but they have since collapsed into their shell and they are struggling to get going again.
90'
Four minutes of stoppage time added...
88'
Back underway and this will be a tense few minutes for the visitors but the home side look very tired out there.
87'
We have a break in play due to a head injury.
84'
F. Cervi enters the game and replaces Rafa.
Just a few minutes to go and Cervi comes on for Fernandes.
79'
Rodrigo Galo enters the game and replaces André Simões.
André Almeida gets yellow.
Last change sees Simoes replaced by Brito.
Almeida gets a yellow for a push in midfield.
77'
The most relieved man in Athens right now is Dias. His team collapsed after his dismissal but Semedo's goal seems to have rescued him.
75'
Semedo so far tonight = one shot, one goal. Not a bad evening!
Minute
Description
74'
Alfa Semedo has scored a goal for Benfica!
GOAAAAALLLLLLLL AEK 2-3 Benfica. What a sublime bit of play from substitute Semedo as he scores his first Champions League goal. The youngster picked up possession in midfield before going on a mazy run and smashing the ball into the far corner.
73'
CHANCE!!! Klonaridis is denied by Vlachodimos from close range as he tries to score his hat-trick but the midfielder could have passed to a team-mate to make it 3-2. Superb save from the Benfica man!
70'
Benfica still look petrified to fly forward and you cannot blame them. AEK have been so dominant and look like scoring every time they go and attack.
68'
U. Ćosić enters the game and replaces M. Oikonomou.
Another change for AEK as Oikonomou is replaced by Cosic.
66'
Still 1-1 by the way between Bayern and Ajax in the other game in this group.
64'
What a cracking game this has been! This could be a bumpy final 30 minutes.
63'
V. Klonaridis has scored a goal for AEK Athens! Assist by M. Oikonomou.
Oikonomou gets the assist thanks to his cushioned header.
GOAAAALLLLLLLL IT IS 2-2!!!!!! Klonaridis grabs his second of the night and AEK are in dreamland. In their first Champions League game for 12 years they could go on to win this. Klonaridis gets his fourth European goal of the season thanks to a simple volley from inside the box.
62'
Alfa Semedo enters the game and replaces Pizzi.
Change for Benfica as Semedo comes on to replace Fernandes.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Giakoumakis makes an immediate impact or so he thinks as he linesman claims he is offside as he volleys home.
60'
G. Giakoumakis enters the game and replaces E. Ponce.
Whatever happens tonight, Benfica have reached a club milestone this evening. They came into the game having scored 99 Champions League goals and they are now the 27th team to reach 100 goals in the competition and just the second Portuguese side after FC Porto.
Ponce looks to have suffered an injury and he will now be replaced by Giakoumakis.
58'
Silly mistake from AEK as they give a free kick away straight from the corner. The scoreline remains 1-2 and the home side are now in full flow.
57'
Ponce bursts through on goal before being denied by Vlachodimos but the home side then win a corner...
56'
The atmosphere is now very hostile and Benfica will not be enjoying themselves out there.
53'
V. Klonaridis has scored a goal for AEK Athens! Assist by N. Hult.
GOAAALLLL AEK 1-2 Benfica - Klonaridis does not miss this time and he slots the ball home from inside the six-yard box. The midfielder made a brilliant run into the area and it is now game on!!!
Hult just about stays onside to deliver a cross for Klonaridis and he claims the assist.
52'
BLOCK - Klonaridis sneaks into the box but sees his shot blocked but that's much better from the hosts.
49'
The sending off has ruined Benfica's game plan as expected. Their new one is very simple...defend!
48'
AEK make a much better start to the second half and win a corner but the delivery is so poor. The cross does not even beat the first man and their set pieces need to improve if they are to get a point tonight.
46'
C. Lema enters the game and replaces E. Salvio.
Substitution at the break sees Salvio replaced by Lema. Looks like a 4-4-1 formation now for the visitors.
We are back underway in Athens!
45' +4
Rúben Dias gets a second yellow card and is sent off.
RED CARD!! - Dias is sent to the stands as he receives his second yellow. The centre-back jumps to volley the ball away but he fails to see Ponce coming and kicks him in the chest. He has to go and AEK will be raring to go in the second half now.
HALF TIME - AEK 0-2 Benfica.
45' +1
Three minutes of stoppage time to come...
45'
SUPERB SAVE!!! Vlachodimos produces another fine stop as he is forced to stretch to deny Bakasetas. The forward latched onto a through ball before chesting and shooting but his half volley is palmed away.
42'
Less than three minutes remaining of the first half and Benfica deservedly lead. There's definitely improvements from the home team but they may need a team talk to give them a lift.
40'
A. Bakasetas gets yellow.
Bakasetas is the latest man in the book after a cynical challenge on the halfway line.
39'
OVER THE BAR - Bakakis creates a great chance for his side thanks to a lung-bursting run down the right wing. He cuts the ball back for Klonaridis but the midfielder leans back and smashes his shot over the bar.
38'
Back underway and AEK win a corner immediately but Benfica do enough to clear the danger. It remains 0-2.
36'
Vlachodimos still down getting treatment as he readjusts his gumshield. It is a good job he's wearing one as he might have been counting his missing teeth after that collision.
34'
E. Ponce gets yellow.
After a quick chat with his fellow officials, referee Orel Grinfeld has decided to book the AEK frontman.
33'
SAVE! Vlachodimos throws himself into the danger zone to cut out a cross and he gets clattered by Ponce. Really brave play from the Benfica stopper!
31'
AEK have managed to work their way back into the contest but they are still not creating enough in the final third.
28'
Big news from elsewhere in Group E...Ajax have drawn level against Bayern Munich.
26'
Benfica come forward on the counter and Pizzi tries to pick his spot from outside the box. The midfielder aims for the top right-hand corner but he puts a little too much power on his effort.
25'
AEK striker Ponce has been rather bored tonight without many touches of the ball. His first sight of goal is from 30 yards but he can only find the stands.
23'
CHANCE - AEK finally register their first shot on target but Hult is denied by Vlachodimos. The left-back was allowed to dribble into the penalty area but he could not find a way through from a tight angle.
20'
The Greek outfit do lack Champions League experience but the home crowd are staying behind their side. The noise is deafening as they urge their team forward in hope that they can grab at least one goal.
18'
Benfica continue to pile through midfield and there is every chance they could score four or five if AEK do not wake up at the back.
15'
Álex Grimaldo has scored a goal for Benfica! Assist by Pizzi.
Benfica midfielder Pizzi claims the assist and his curling cross was inch-perfect for the visitors.
GOAAALLLLL AEK 0-2 Benfica - Rui Vitoria's men double their advantage and Grimaldo scores his first goal in the Champions League. The left-back creeps his way round the back of the defence and he latches onto a cross before producing a simple header. Barkas does his best to close him down but it is not enough.
14'
AEK need to ride this period out before they concede another goal. Defensively they have just not done enough and that is having a knock on effect with their attacking ambitions.
11'
Back-to-back chances for Benfica as Grimaldo and Fejsa go close. Grimaldo's low cross was nearly turned in before Fejsa was denied from the resulting corner.
9'
Bayern are also one-nil up against Ajax...
8'
Rúben Dias gets yellow.
Dias is now the first man in the book after a trip in midfield.
6'
H. Seferović has scored a goal for Benfica!
FREE HEADER!!! - Conti climbs higher than all of the AEK defence but he steers his effort straight at Barkas.
GOAAAALLLLLL - AEK 0-1 Benfica - The visitors take the lead thanks to some good work from Fernandes. His strike stung the palms of Barkas and the goalkeeper teed up Seferovic who was on hand to smash the ball home.
5'
The first corner of the night goes to Benfica...
4'
If they are to succeed tonight, Ouzounidis' side will need to imporve dramatically from matchday one. They were the only team that failed to land a single shot on target during the first game of this season’s Champions League.
2'
We will keep you up to date with the scoreline between Ajax and Bayern but an entertaining game is still expected between these two. Both remain pointless and AEK will be desperate to get all three points under coach Marinos Ouzounidis.
1'
We are underway in Athens as Benfica in their traditional red strip kick us off. AEK are in black and yellow and jeers greet the visitng team.
Hello and welcome to tonight's live coverage of the UEFA Champions League match between AEK Athens and Benfica. These two were drawn in Group E earlier this summer and both lost their first matches of the competition so one of them will at least pick up their first point.
AEK were hammered 3-0 by Ajax in their opening game, while Benfica failed to get a result against Bayern Munich and they eventually went down 2-0.
Tonight's TEAM NEWS coming up...
AEK Athens Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Vasilios Barkas, Michalis Bakakis, Marios Oikonomou, Dmytro Chygrynskiy, Niklas Hult, Konstantinos Galanopoulos, Andre Simoes, Anastasios Bakasetas, Viktor Klonaridis, Petros Mantalos (c), Ezequiel Ponce.
Both teams are going through their final warm-up routines and kick off is nearly upon us. A terrific atmosphere is expected at the Olympic Stadium and Benfica's Champions League experience makes them the slight favourites.
The referee brings an end to a dramatic first 45 minutes in Athens. Benfica surged into a two-nil lead inside the first 15 minutes but AEK have continued to chip away at them ever since. They should have scored at least one but Dias' sending off will give them a lifeline in the second half.
Benfica will probably make a change in order to cover themselves but that will still give AEK more room in a different area of the pitch. It promises to be an exciting second half.
Time to relax after a sensational 90 minutes of football in Athens. Benfica's fans will have expected their team to have the game wrapped up inside the first 40 minutes but then disaster struck when Dias was sent off. Full credit has to go to AEK for coming back but the players will be heartbroken after Semedo's strike.
AEK will be expected to struggle if they repeat the same mistakes in defence but Benfica showed plenty of courage to come back and win considering their disadvantage.
That is all for tonight folks. Thanks for joining us, goodbye!
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