Martins inspires Benfica to win over Lyon
LISBON, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Midfielder Carlos Martins created four goals as Benfica survived a late fightback to beat Lyon 4-3 in their Champions League Group B match on Tuesday, reviving their hopes of reaching the next round.
Martins's tense free kick into the crowded Lyon box allowed striker Alan Kardec to tower over the defence to head in for the Portuguese champions' opening goal on 20 minutes. He then fed Fabio Coentrao for the second after a flowing counterattack.
Martins, who has been on fine form this season and made a return to the Portugal squad, was also involved in the third, his corner to the first post allowed Javi Garcia to head in three minutes before the break.
From another counter attack Martins sent Coentrao through and he scored with a delightful lob in the 67th minute before Yoann Gourcuff and substitutes Bafetimbi Gomis and Dejan Lovren pulled three back for the French side.
Benfica's main creative force, Argentine playmaker Pablo Aimar, was ruled out moments before kickoff, but his replacement Eduardo Salvio looked dangerous throughout.
He forced Hugo Lloris to block away a left-footed shot from outside the box on 12 minutes and called the keeper into action again in the 39th minute after a fine run on the right wing.
Lyon, missing their regular striker Lisandro Lopez through injury, looking disjointed going forward and rarely threatened.
Barring two early disallowed goals from Jimmy Briand, their only clear chance in the first half came on 28 minutes, when the striker's overhead kick from a cross from Anthony Reveillere went wide.
Gourcuff's goal with a crisp shot from near the penalty on 75 minutes, Gomis's tap-in 10 minutes later and Lovren's headed goal deep into injury time came too late for Lyon.
Lyon, however, still lead the standings with nine points followed by Schalke 04 on seven and Benfica on six.
