Karabakh pulls off shocking victory over Benfica: Sudaakov provides two assists, Kashchuk scores winning goal
In a historic Champions League clash, Karabakh achieved an unexpected victory over the Portuguese giants Benfica, winning 3-2 in a dramatic match.
For the first time in many years, the Azerbaijani club managed to defeat one of Europe’s football giants, with Ukrainian midfielder Georgiy Sudaakov playing a crucial role in this sensational win.
Both Ukrainian footballers started the match for Benfica — goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin and newcomer midfielder Georgiy Sudaakov, who debuted in the Champions League after transferring from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Sudaakov set the tone early by providing two assists within the first 16 minutes: initially delivering a corner kick that headed in by Balarinies, and shortly after that, Pavlidis finished a hidden pass from him with a precise shot — marking his first Champions League goal for Benfica.
However, Benfica couldn’t hold the lead, and by the 48th minute, Karabakh equalized through efforts from Andrade and Duran.
The decisive moment came in the 86th minute when former Shakhtar player Oleksii Kashchuk, substituting into the game at the 77th minute, scored the winning goal with a powerful shot into the bottom corner, securing a historic victory for his team.
Both teams played their first match in this Champions League season, and despite Benfica’s defeat, it was an invaluable experience for them.
Benfica will face Chelsea on September 30, while Karabakh will host Copenhagen on October 1.
Fans can find detailed match results and upcoming fixtures in the latest match reviews and live updates.