Dynamo Kyiv 0 - 2 SL Benfica: Benfica dash Dynamo Kiev and under-fire Sergei Rebrov's Champions League hopes

Posted Thursday, October 20, 2016 by PA

Under-fire Dynamo Kiev boss Sergei Rebrov saw his side suffer a 2-0 home defeat to Benfica to leave their Champions League hopes in tatters.

Eduardo Salvio ramped up the pressure on Rebrov when he converted a ninth-minute penalty and the out-of-sorts Ukrainian champions were out of it when Franco Cervi netted 10 minutes after half-time.

Dynamo have now won just two games in their past 10 matches in all competitions and sit bottom of Group B with a single point.

Benfica had just one point themselves before the trip to Kiev but appear capable of climbing out of a group where there is no clear favourite after Besiktas won at Napoli 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Benfica were gifted their early lead when Vitorino Antunes, who grew up supporting the Portuguese club, was penalised for a sloppy challenge on Goncalo Guedes.

The left-back lost his initial duel with Guedes and when he went back to make up for the error he clipped the teenage forward's heels.

Salvio confidently tucked away the spot-kick with home goalkeeper Artur Rudko diving the wrong way.

Dynamo took until the 25th minute to offer up anything in reply and when they did Derlis Gonzalez headed over when captain Andriy Yarmolenko's pinpoint cross found him unmarked at the back post.

It was the start of a wasteful spell for the winger as he then shot wide after cutting inside before opting to pass when he should have shot from a similar position.

When Gonzalez did make the right decision, and found Junior Moraes at the top of the area, the Brazilian blasted horribly high.

Dynamo were at least controlling possession after their poor start, but Benfica's threat on the break was apparent when a flowing move ended in Salvio shooting tamely at Artur Rudko.

Dynamo were again sluggish after the re-start and were punished when Cervi gave Benfica a two-goal cushion.

The midfielder's first shot was blocked by team-mate Konstantinos Mitroglou, but he still had enough time to regather the rebound and slot home.

Dynamo showed a few signs they might get back in the game, with Moraes and Yarmolenko both denied after being sent through one-on-one with goalkeeper Ederson.

Yarmolenko then saw a goalbound shot blocked by Moraes on the line to sum up Dynamo's night and leave frustrated boss Rebrov and his players to depart to a chorus of boos from the home fans.