Benfica beats Juventus in Europa League semifinals

Lisbon: Benfica beat Juventus 2-1 in the Europa League semifinals with goals by Garay and Lima.

Ezequiel Garay headed in the first goal just three minutes into the game Thursday night at Luz Stadium, following a corner by Serbian attacker Sulejmani, reported Xinhua.

Argentine attacker Carlos Tevez equalized for Juventus in the 73rd minute after a pass by Asmoah on the left flank, and Benfica's Lima scored 10 minutes later in the penalty area with a right footed-effort to the top corner, helping his team win the first match between the two.

Juventus wasted two corner kicks before half time and it was their first defeat in the Europa League, while the Eagles are now at an advantage before the return leg in Italy next Thursday.

Benfica and Juventus last met at the UEFA Cup quarter-finals in 1993 and the latter finally won.