FC Astana remain one of four Champions League sides who are yet to win a group game in this season’s competition after blowing a 2-0 lead at home to Benfica.
Raul Jimenez scored a brace, including this fine second-half equaliser, to claim a point for Benfica, who will qualify for the Champions League knockout phase later tonight if Galatasaray fail to beat Atletico Madrid.
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Patrick Twumasi and Marin Anicic had fired Astana into a healthy lead inside the opening 31 minutes, but Jimenez’s first of the night halved that lead just before half time.
Jimenez, who prior to today had never scored a Champions League goal, then completed the comeback with 17 minutes of the match remaining.
This defeat for Astana – their third in five group games – means that, in order to finish third in Group C and qualify for the Europa League knockout round, they will have to win away to Galatasaray next month and hope that the Turkish side do not beat Atletico this evening.
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