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It was not a test of Fernando Torres’ inner resolve that Liverpool faced in Lisbon tonight but an assault on their collective will. Controversially reduced to 10 men after only 30 minutes against Benfica, Rafael Benítez’s side also had the comfort of a precious away goal undermined by two costly penalty decisions at Estádio da Luz. Throw in a painful night for their Spanish talisman in Iberia, and Liverpool’s infuriation was complete.

For so long this had the trappings of a memorable away scalp for Liverpool. They could still have departed with a draw had Torres not squandered a one-on-one late on, before being replaced due to what seemed an injury, but two Oscar Cardozo penalties has left them a troubled task at Anfield next week.

Liverpool’s two Champions League ties ties against Benfica four years ago failed to yield a single goal for but they remedied that statistic in style to gain a foothold on this quarter-final after nine minutes. It was an exquisite finish from Daniel Agger.

The Swedish referee, Jonas Eriksson, opened his hectic night by awarding Liverpool a foul on the left of the Benfica penalty area when Maxi Pereira, their right back, sent Steven Gerrard sprawling. With the Portuguese league leaders crowding their six-yard box in anticipation of an in-swinging free-kick, Gerrard simply squared his delivery low to the unmarked Agger, who flicked a nonchalant back-heel into the bottom corner.

The omens had not augured well for Benfica from the moment Vitoria, the club’s emblematic eagle that swoops around the stadium before kick off, had refused to land on its designated plinth and its sheepish handler coaxed it up at the third attempt. But their reaction to conceding an early away goal in Europe was that of a team convinced in its own outstanding ability. The volume inside the stadium rose while Liverpool were still celebrating, as did the threat from Benfica once the contest resumed.

Fábio Coentrao, leading the line alone in the absence of the injured Javier Saviola, squandered a glorious chance to level within minutes when he met Carlos Martins’ cross at the back post, only to slice his connection over the bar. When not attempting to release the incisive Angel Di Maria at every opportunity, Martins unsettled the visiting defence from deep too and one lofted chip over Agger put Pablo Aimar through, but an uncharacteristically poor first touch enabled Jose Reina to collect. The Liverpool goalkeeper saved from Di Maria’s header and saw the Argentine send a rising drive inches over his top corner from 20 yards as the pressure remained on his goal.

On the half hour Liverpool’s task became more problematic when Eriksson brought chaos to proceedings and Babel foolishly, if also harshly, received a straight red card for pushing Luisão in the face. The Benfica captain was the instigator of the controversy with a dreadful foul from behind on Torres that perhaps deserved more than the yellow card shown. In the melee that followed, Babel placed his hand across the Brazilian’s mouth and stupidly raised his hand to the defender’s face a second time to attract red. Luisão was also guilty of lifting his hands, and in the arguments that followed it initially seemed that Benfica were down to 10 men. Eventually, however, it was Babel who commenced the lonely walk, to the catcalls of the Portuguese and disbelief of Benítez in the visiting dug-out.

There was further incident when Torres put the ball in the net from another Gerrard free-kick but Dirk Kuyt was given offside in the build-up. Emiliano Insúa then collected the booking that will rule him out of next week’s return when he pulled back Aimar.

Benfica’s defenders were taking turns to leave their mark on Torres in an attempt to entice a reaction from the Spaniard, and their supporters also crossed the line when a fire-cracker was thrown at one of the additional assistant referees behind the goal. The firework missed its target .

The Portuguese had some nerve having a pop at the match officials. What grievances were felt on the night were entirely Liverpool’s. Cordoza, having missed another inviting header early in the second half, was awarded a generous free-kick just outside the visitors’ penalty area following a tussle with Agger. When the Paraguayan’s thunderous free-kick cannoned off the base of a post and rebounded to Aimar, who was heading to ground before Insua made contact, Benfica got the benefit of the doubt once again. Penalty; and Cordoza finally made his mark by beating Reina’s dive towards the bottom left hand corner.

Cordozo benefited again when Carragher was adjuged to have handled Di Maria’s cross 12 minutes from time, this time sending Reina the wrong way with a delicate chip from 12 yards.

Uefa Europa LeagueBenficaLiverpoolAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk