Youth League, Inter 1 - 1 Benfica

MILANO - Christian Chivu's Inter U19 drew in their second game in UEFA Youth League group D. The Nerazzurri took the lead through Brenebruch in a hard-fought game at the KONAMI Youth Development Centre and had the chances to score what would have been a vital second goal, but conceded a late equaliser. Benfica started strongly; the guests' pace up top was a big problem for the Nerazzurri's defence, though didn't create any real early threats. The first effort of the match came in the fifth minute through Conceicao, who let fly from the edge of the area - well over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Benfica came at Inter again: Joao Rego fed Joao Veloso in behind and he looked to hit the ball into the far corner but dragged it wide of the post. Benfica looked dangerous but it was Inter who took the lead; Berenbruch latched on to a loose touch from Diogo Prioste and found himself one-on-one with Velickovic. The midfielder kept his cool and slotted home to make it 1-0 to us. The goal calmed the Nerazzurri's nerves and our boys began to grow into it. But Benfica reorganised themselves and began to push for an equaliser. In the 19th minute, Concercao put a dangerous ball into the boy but Stante got to it ahead of Joao Rego. Two minutes later, the same centre-forward brought the ball down in the box and laid it off for Hugo Felix, who fired over from short range. Inter, however, didn't give up. Berenbruch found a bit of space in midfield and carried the ball to the edge of the Benfica box, but his ensuing shot was too high (23'). Quieto then fed Berenbruch with a brilliant back-heel; the midfielder forced Velickovic into a save, turning it behind (29'). The ensuing corner dropped to Quieto, whose effort from the edge of the box flew off target. Kamaté led a break down the right a minute later; nobody could keep pace with the Inter player, who drew a good save from the Benfica keeper. The guests began to dominate possession but Inter continued to prove potent on the counter. In the 37th minute, Quieto did brilliantly to spot and then find Kamaté down the right; Inter's number 10 drove into the penalty area but his resulting shot cannoned into the side netting. With five minutes of normal time left to play in the first half, Benfica pushed once more: Diogo Spencer received the ball on the edge of the box, adjusted his body and let fly, over the bar. Two minutes later, Ivan Lima tried his luck but his shot too was well off target. The guests were well in the ascendancy as the half wound to a close but Chivu's boys defended resolutely and held on to go into the break a goal to the good, despite a final chance for Rodrigo Rego in added time, which was saved excellently by Calligaris. Benfica came flying out of the traps to start the second half. Joao Rego set Rafael Luis up to shoot, which was blocked behind for a corner by Stante (46'). Hugo Felix then spurned a guilt-edge opportunity (50'); the forward got free of Mayé in the area and sent his shot high over the Inter crossbar. The tempo of the game slowed somewhat but chances still came; in the 56th minute, Rafael Luis had a go from outside the area but the effort lacked conviction and it went wide. Diogo Spencer unleashed with his left, drawing a simple save from Calligaris (62'). Three minutes later, the Inter shot-stopper produced a stunning stop to deny Rafael Luis, who unleashed a powerful first-time effort following a great piece of interplay between Lima, Joao Rego and Hugo Felix inside the hosts' penalty area. Kamaté had the chance to wrap it up in the 75th minute; Berenbruch fed our number 10, who cut inside and saw his effort deflected over the bar in a desperate bit of last-ditch defending from Fonseca. In the 80th minute, Rodrigo Rego blocked Calligaris' goal-kick and laid it off for the substitute Silva, who though he had a certain goal but Cocchi scrambled back to brilliantly clear the ball away. Inter tried with all their power to slow the tempo down, looking to profit from fatigue in the guests' ranks. However, in the 82nd minute, Benfica got their goal. Joao Rego wriggled free in the box and slotted home the equaliser, though it took a deflection off Stante on the way through. Two minutes later, Hugo Felix went close to giving Benfica a late lead; his free-kick whistled past Calligaris' right-hand upright. Tension abounded and the tackles were flying; Cocchi was sent off in the 90th minute. The nerves in added time were palpable and neither side had the composure to create one final chance. This 1-1 draw takes the Nerazzurri to two points in group D ahead of two straight fixtures against Salzburg.

MATCH DETAILS

INTER 1-1 BENFICA

Goals: 11' Berenbruch (I), 82' Joao Rego (B).

INTER (4-3-3): 1 Calligaris; 2 Aidoo, 15 Stante, 16 Matjaz (6 Mayé 46'), 3 Cocchi; 8 Di Maggio (7 Ricordi 85'), 4 Stankovic (5 Bovo 63'), 14 Berenbruch; 10 Kamate, 9 Spinaccè (17 Vedovati 85'), 11 Quieto (18 Diallo 63'). Subs.: 12 Raimondi, 13 Guercio. Coach: Cristian Chivu. 

BENFICA (4-3-3): 1 Velickovic; 2 J. Conceicao, 4 J. Fonseca (18 Mustmaa 90'+4), 15 Okon-Engstler (14 Carlos Meotti 70'), 5 Diogo Spencer; 10 Joao Veloso (17 Silva 77'), 6 Diogo Prioste, 8 Rafael Luis; 11 Hugo Felix, 9 Joao Rego, 7 Ivan Lima. Subs.: 12 Mendes-Dudzinski, 3 Wynder, 13 L. Martins, 16 Rodrigo Rego. Coach: Pedro Valido.

Bookings: Stante (I), Kamaté (I), Cocchi (I), Quieto (I), Spinaccè (I), Silva (B).

Red card: Cocchi (I) 90'.

Added time: 3', 7'.

Referee: Robert Ian Jenkins (WAL). Linesmen: Ian David Bird (WAL) - Jordan Lee Christopher (WAL). Fourth Official: Marco Piccinini (ITA).