Six different scorers, one lopsided night in Lisbon
Hearts never had a prayer. Benfica led inside three minutes at the Estadio da Luz and kept pouring it on, running out 6-1 winners in the first leg of their Europa League third qualifying round tie on Thursday. The Scottish side left Portugal with a record-equalling European defeat and a tie that is already gone.
Rafa Silva opened the scoring in the third minute. Tomas Araujo added a second on 23, and Vangelis Pavlidis made it three from the penalty spot before the break. Whatever plan Hearts arrived with lay in pieces by half-time.
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Benfica never eased off
Gianluca Prestianni struck on the hour. Jhon Duran came off the bench to score on 87, and Andreas Schjelderup rolled in a second penalty deep into stoppage time. Six goals, six different names on the sheet, and a Lisbon crowd that spent the night in cruise control.
Tom Renaud pulled one back for Hearts, a consolation that will not travel well to Edinburgh. The second leg is a formality now, and Benfica sit on the brink of the playoff round with a game to spare.
Where it leaves both clubs
For Benfica, a statement of intent as they chase the league phase. For Hearts, a harsh measuring stick against one of the continent’s heavyweights, and a long flight home to sit with it.
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