Portuguese champion Benfica's hopes of making it out of the group stage in the Champions League were boosted Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Lyon after an embarrassing late blunder by goalkeeper Anthony Lopes.
Lopes, who is Portuguese, tried to quickly throw the ball out of his area in the 86th minute but his pass was intercepted by Benfica's Pizzi Fernandes near midfield. The forward sent a shot straight into the open net.
Pizzi had come off the bench 20 minutes into the game to replace the injured Rafa Silva, who had opened the scoring for Benfica in the fourth minute.
Benfica's Pizzi, right, celebrates with his teammates his goal against Lyon during the Champions League group G soccer match between Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArmando Franca)
Memphis Depay equalized for Lyon in the 70th.
It was the first win for Benfica after two straight losses to open its campaign in Group G. It remains in last place but is now only one point behind both Lyon and Zenit St. Petersburg.
Leipzig has a two-point lead at the top after coming from behind to beat Zenit 2-1 earlier Wednesday.
Benfica's Rafa Silva, right, celebrates his goal against Lyon during the Champions League group G soccer match between Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArmando Franca)
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Benfica's Rafa Silva, left, celebrates with his teammates his goal against Lyon during the Champions League group G soccer match between Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArmando Franca)
Benfica's Rafa Silva, right, celebrates with his teammates his goal against Lyon during the Champions League group G soccer match between Benfica and Olympique Lyonnais at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019. (AP PhotoArmando Franca)