Landmark Luisao gives Benfica winning start

Brazil centre-back Luisao scored the 5,000th goal in Champions League history as Benfica opened their campaign with a 2-0 defeat of competition debutants Hapoel Tel-Aviv here on Tuesday.

Benfica, who lifted the Portuguese title for the first time in five years last season, took a 21st-minute lead when Luisao met a right-wing cross with a sumptuous volley inside the right-hand post.

Hapoel are only the third Israeli side to reach the Champions League group phase and they fell 2-0 down in the 68th minute when Paraguay international Oscar Cardozo netted the hosts’ second goal.

The result gave two-time European champions Benfica the early lead in Group B ahead of their trip to German side Schalke on September 29.