Di Maria leads Benfica's counterattack!35-year-old superstar corner kick stunner + assist, Europa League promotion report.
In the early morning of December 13, Beijing time, Group D of the Champions League group stage ushered in a thrilling matchup, Benfica faced Salzburg away. In this suspenseful contest, the 35-year-old Argentine superstar Di Maria was the biggest highlight of the match, and with his superb skills and outstanding performance, he led Benfica to a 3-1 comeback and successfully qualified for the Europa League. Let's take a look back at this brilliant battle on the European stage.
Di Maria makes history: at the peak of 35 years old.
Benfica were under pressure to go out of the tournament, and the 35-year-old Di Maria stepped up at a crucial moment to win a magnificent comeback for the team. In the 32nd minute, Di Maria took a corner kick that flew straight into the net at the near post, which not only gave Benfica the lead, but also became Di Maria's first direct goal in the Champions League for the first time in his career. The timing of the goal was crucial, with the Salzburg goalkeeper having no chance to react and the Benfica players were boiling over to celebrate the hard-earned goal.
In first-half stoppage time, Di Maria once again showed his skill and provided a precise assist. His precise pass found Rafa Silva in the box, who calmly slotted home to extend Benfica's lead to 2-0. This goal was not only a difficult match for the opponent to defend, but also a smart play of Di Maria on the field, which created a more favorable score for the team.
Five miracles in the history of the Champions League: Di Maria sets a new record.
At the age of 35, Di Maria is in stunning form as Benfica's oldest player to score in the Champions League at the age of 35 years and 301 days.
Surpassing Messi: In the history of the Champions League, Di Maria surpassed Messi at the age of 35 years and 301 days to become the second oldest Argentine player to score goals, and became a football legend.
Corner kick miracle: Di Maria's corner kick was a new goal in the Champions League in the last two years, and it was also the first time in his career that he scored directly from a corner in the Champions League.
Assist legend: Since making his Champions League debut, Di Maria has provided 35 assists in the Champions League, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo (34) and second only to Messi (36) to become an assist legend.
Savior Di Maria: This game is not the first time Di Maria has saved Benfica, as early as the beginning of the season in the Portuguese Super Cup, Di Maria helped the team win with a stunner, showing calmness and decisiveness at critical moments.
In this game, Di Maria was not only the team's goalscorer, but also the decision-maker and playmaker at key moments, creating a historic moment for Benfica.
Benfica counterattack: Europa League qualification is in hand.
This battle with Salzburg is a do-or-die battle for Benfica. Despite their poor start to the season, they showed a strong counter-attack in this game. Especially under the leadership of Angel Di Maria, Benfica finally defeated their opponents with a score of 3-1 and successfully qualified for the Europa League.
Both teams have 4 points and are evenly divided against each other, with the same number of goals scored and goal difference. In the end, Benfica surpassed Salzburg to finish third in the group by virtue of one away goal, and successfully entered the Europa League knockout play-offs, ushering in new hope for the team.
Di Maria's historic moment: Champions League's all-time corner winner.
Di Maria's performances were not only eye-catching in this game, but he also set a series of astonishing records on the historical stage of the Champions League. This corner kick is not only a difficult tactic for the opponent, but also a new chapter in the history of the Champions League with a corner kick. Such a goalscoring scene has rarely occurred in the past two years, and Di Maria, at the age of 35, has shown this rare skill for the first time in the Champions League.
Looking ahead: Angel Di Maria leads Benfica to new heights.
The counterattack was successful, and Benfica ushered in a new challenge. The Europa League knockout rounds are just around the corner and Di Maria will continue to play a key role in the team. Fans are looking forward to the Argentine superstar's performance at key moments, and it is believed that he will once again show excellent skills and leadership in the Europa League campaign to win more honours for the team.
On this thrilling night, the 35-year-old became Benfica's hero and created a new chapter in Champions League history. Fans are looking forward to him continuing to write more legends for the team in future games. Let's all hope for how long Di Maria's glory days will continue.