Benfica Triumphs Over Monaco 3-2 With Amdouni's Late Winner And Di Maria's Key Assists

Benfica staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Monaco 3-2 in the Champions League, ending Monaco's four-match unbeaten streak. The match saw Benfica score two late headers to clinch victory. Eliesse Ben Seghir initially put Monaco ahead in the 13th minute, capitalising on Aleksandr Golovin's precise cutback after a swift counter-attack.

Monaco started strong, with Ben Seghir finding the net early. Despite this, Benfica soon took control of the game. In the 37th minute, Angel Di Maria was denied by Radoslaw Majecki, and Nicolas Otamendi's header narrowly missed from the resulting corner. Breel Embolo hit the post in the second half, which proved costly for Monaco.

The match saw its fair share of drama as both teams had goals disallowed for offside following VAR reviews. The situation worsened for Monaco when Wilfried Singo received a second yellow card just before the hour mark, reducing them to ten players.

Vangelis Pavlidis seized an opportunity from Caio Henrique's weak header to equalise for Benfica. Soungoutou Magassa then restored Monaco's lead in the 67th minute with his first goal for the club, finishing Christian Mawissa's angled pass into the corner.

Di Maria played a crucial role in Benfica's comeback. His exceptional cross allowed Arthur Cabral to level the score in the 84th minute. Just four minutes later, Di Maria delivered another perfect cross for Zeki Amdouni, who headed home the winner.

Di Maria's Record-Breaking Performance

Di Maria's contributions were significant as he moved to 38 assists in Champions League history. This achievement places him ahead of David Beckham (36) and just behind Ryan Giggs (41), Cristiano Ronaldo (40), and Lionel Messi (39). Di Maria also marked his 112th appearance in UEFA’s top competition.

Pavlidis scored his first goal for Benfica during this match. The Greek forward has now netted 13 times in 26 major European matches, maintaining an impressive average of one goal every two games.

The thrilling encounter highlighted Benfica’s resilience and showcased Di Maria’s creative prowess on a memorable night for both players and fans alike.