Trubin’s last-minute goal secures Benfica’s Champions League survival
Anatoliy Trubin was left utterly bewildered after his stoppage-time header secured Benfica’s Champions League survival against Real Madrid on Wednesday night, reports BritPanorama.
Trubin’s 98th-minute goal completed a remarkable 4-2 triumph that saw Benfica scrape into the knockout phase playoffs in 24th position with nine points and a goal difference of minus two.
The result also denied Real Madrid a place in the top eight of the competition. The Ukrainian goalkeeper admitted he had no idea what his side required when he ventured forward for a late free kick.
“I didn’t know what we needed,” he said after the game. “Then I saw everyone telling me to go up. I also saw our coach, so I went up, went into the box, and I don’t know … I don’t know what to say.”
The 24-year-old described the moment as a “crazy moment” and revealed it was his first-ever goal. “I’m not used to scoring,” Trubin added. “Unbelievable.”
José Mourinho confessed that miscommunication over qualification requirements nearly proved fatal to Benfica’s European campaign. The Portuguese manager revealed he had instructed his team to shut up shop after being told a 3-2 scoreline would suffice.
“When I made the last changes, [Franjo] Ivanovic and [Antonio] Silva, I was told [the scoreline] is enough, so let’s close the door,” Mourinho told Paramount+. Those defensive substitutions came in the 93rd minute, but just moments later came alarming news.
“A few seconds later, then they tell me we need one more goal, but I cannot make more changes,” he explained.
Mourinho also praised his players for their achievement, telling Movistar: “I think we deserved it, we really deserved it. Kylian [Mbappé] had two chances and scored two goals. For Benfica, it’s incredibly prestigious to beat Real Madrid. It’s fantastic.”
The victory caps a turbulent European campaign for the Lisbon club, who suffered defeats in their opening four Champions League fixtures before mounting this unlikely recovery. Benfica’s reward for their dramatic qualification is a playoff tie against either Real Madrid or Inter Milan, with the draw scheduled for midday local time today in Nyon, Switzerland.
Should the Portuguese side be paired with Madrid, it would mark an immediate rematch following Wednesday’s thrilling encounter. A meeting with Inter would pit Mourinho against one of his former employers, adding further intrigue to the knockout phase, as he previously led both clubs during his distinguished coaching career.
Domestically, Benfica have endured a challenging campaign and currently occupy third place in the Portuguese league, making their European progress all the more significant. In football, just as in life, sometimes the most unexpected moments yield the greatest triumphs; Trubin’s header serves as a reminder of the unpredictable drama that makes the beautiful game endlessly compelling.
