Astana claim draw as Benfica edge towards qualification

Raul Jimenez scored twice to give Benfica a 2-2 draw against FC Astana in the Champions League.

Astana scored their first goal of the group stages through Patrick Twumasi, who met Junior Kabananga's cross with a thundering header. Ten minutes later, Astana had their second when Foxi Kethevoama's delivery was glanced home past a static Julio Cesar.

The second goal rallied Benfica, who raised the pressure as they looked to secure passage to the knockout stages, and Pizzi's cross was headed in at the near post by Jimenez to halve the deficit.

After the restart, Astana continued to pose a threat on the counter-attack, but Jimenez got his and Benfica's second when he scuffed a low shot into the net.

Astana faded in the second period, and Benfica came close to opening them up on occasions, but the defence and midfield dropped deep to secure their first Champions League point.

19' - GOAL! FC Astana 1 - 0 Benfica. Astana attack down the left with Kabananga, who fires in an early cross to the back post, and Twumasi thunders in his header.

31' - GOAL! Astana 2-0 Benfica. Another Astana free kick, this time on the left, swung in by Kethevoama, and Anicic glances it off the back of his head, beating Cesar.

40' - GOAL! Astana 2-1 Benfica. Astana fail to clear a free kick properly. A cross is volleyed in from Pizzi on the right for Jimenez, who squeezes in a header at the near post.

44' - LOPEZ YELLOW! Benfica try to slice through the Astana defence but Eliseu is tackled on the left, and at the other end, there's trouble for Benfica. Astana break down the right, with a ball over the top for Tuwmasi. Lopez blocks him off, just as Cesar boots it away. Yellow for Lopez.

45+1' - ASTANA CHANCES! Shomko volleys a first-time shot after the free kick was curled from the right into his path. It's scuffed wide of the far post. Then Astana attack again through Tuwmasi, and he lashes a shot from distance that's just wide of the opposite post.

60' - JONAS SHOT! Guedes takes a touch and tries to force a corner. It doesn't actually go out of play, though, and Guedes catches everyone out. He volleys to Jonas, who shoots just wide.

72' - GOAL! Astana 2-2 Benfica. A low ball played in from the right by Almeida, and Jimenez scuffs it in across goal to the back post.

Astana scored their first Champions League group stage goal in the match.

This is the fourth successive game in which Benfica have been in a Champions League game with three or more goals scored.

Astana will rue the referees decisions. Lopez could have been sent off for a denial of a goalscoring opportunity, and Jimenez could have walked with a loose elbow when challenging for a high ball. It is their fault for failing to keep their focus when they had a 2-0 lead, but they could have done so in more favourable circumstances.

Patrick Twumasi (Astana): He started the game slowly, but from the moment he scored and gained confidence, he provided an attacking outlet on the right-wing for the counter attack, and pinned back Benfica on the left wing.

Astana: Eric 6, Ilic 6, Anicic 6, Postnikov 6, Shomko 6, Maksimovic 6, Canas 6, Kethevoama 6, Muzhikov 6, Twumasi 7, Kabananga 7. Subs: Schetkin 6, Zhukov 6, Dedechko 6.

Benfica: Julio Cesar 6, Silvio 6, Lopez 6, Jardel 6, Eliseu 6, Samaris 6, Sanchez 6, Pizzi 6, Guedes 6, Jonas 6, Gimenez 7. Subs: Almeida 6, Cristante 6, Talisca 6.