LISBON • Benfica made Borussia Dortmund pay for missing a host of chances, as they snatched a 1-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The Portuguese side's edge was secured with Kostas Mitroglou's 13th goal in as many games.

The Greece forward flicked the ball into the net in the 48th minute and Benfica held on to take a lead into the second leg in Dortmund on March 8.

Benfica, who have now not conceded a goal at home for 383 minutes, kept another clean sheet thanks largely to goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, who denied the German side with a string of superb saves.

Dortmund, who had netted a record 21 times in the group stage, missed a second-half penalty through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who also squandered several other scoring chances.

"We ended up scoring a goal in a situation we had been working for," said Benfica coach Rui Vitoria. "In order to play such teams one has to be prepared to suffer to the limit.

"Now we know what we have to do in the return leg. Scoring a goal there will have a huge impact."

Gabon international Aubameyang missed three gilt-edged opportunities and was replaced by Andre Schurrle just past the hour mark.

"We cannot do much more than carve out these golden chances," Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said. "We will now need efficiency in the return leg if we are to advance."

REUTERS