LISBON – Benfica coach Roger Schmidt praised his players for their ruthlessness, as Goncalo Ramos struck twice to help the hosts romp to a 5-1 Champions League last-16, second-leg win over Club Brugge on Tuesday in Lisbon to advance 7-1 on aggregate.
Ramos, who shot to global fame during the Qatar World Cup when he was selected ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal and netted a hat-trick against Switzerland, set up the opener for Rafa Silva.
The 21-year-old forward then produced two clinical finishes either side of half-time to ensure the two-time European Cup winners would reach the quarter-finals for the second consecutive season.
Joao Mario struck from the spot to score in his fifth consecutive Champions League match, while David Neres added the fifth for Benfica before Bjorn Meijer netted a spectacular late consolation.
”We are very happy. We played from the start without trying to defend the 2-0 first leg,” said Schmidt.
“We have shown that we want to play forward and score goals. We are among the last eight teams in this competition, so it’s a big achievement for the club and for my players.
“Goncalo is back in top form. He scores a lot of goals but he is above all a very complete player.”
Benfica have been firing in the Champions League this season.
They finished top of a group containing heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, and made light work of Scott Parker’s knockout stage novices on Tuesday.
The Portuguese side have been beaten only once all season across all competitions and dominated from the outset against their Belgian visitors.
“Things are going well because the team is working hard,” added Silva, whose side are top of the Primeira Liga.
“We will go game by game, first think about what is next in the Portuguese league on the weekend and winning it. That’s what matters now and we will think about the (Champions League) quarter-finals when the time comes.”
Parker, meanwhile, became the first English coach to concede five goals in a Champions League match and lost his job in the aftermath.
The 42-year-old was appointed in December after he was sacked by Bournemouth last August, and Brugge have won only two games during his tenure.
After the match in Lisbon, he was asked if he would still be in charge for Sunday’s league game against Standard Liege. He replied: “I am not sure. I am not in control of that.”
He got clarity not long later when Brugge announced his sacking.
Belgian publication Het Nieuwsblad reported that Alfred Schreuder, who was dismissed by Ajax Amsterdam in January, is in line to return to Brugge. He led them to the Belgian top-flight title last season. AFP, REUTERS
