Second half sub Freddy Adu notched a Benfica spot kick equalizer deep into stoppage time, then converted his penalty in the shootout as the club advanced past Portuguese Cup hosts Estrela Amadora on Wednesday night.

Eagle attacker Maxi Pereira had the first good chance of the game, but his fifth minute drive sailed past the upper 90.

Estrela took initiative to create a few opportunities to fire, but could not beat Benfica netminder Hans-Jörg Butt until an unmarked Maurício scored past the sprawling German in the 36th minute.

Adu came on at halftime for Maxi Pereira, and would eventually send the away fans into hysterics with a last gasp leveler from the spot after a questionable handball whistle against late home side sub Wagnão in the area.

The young American dutifully netted to send the game to a shootout, then after Estrela goal scorer Maurício clanged the bar, opened that for Benfica with another penalty conversion.

After Yoni missed for the hosts in round six, Andrés Diaz fired the fatal shot to send the visitors on to the next round.

Scoring
EA - Maurício 36'
BEN - Freddy Adu (PK) 90+3'

Shootout
EA - Maurício (crossbar)
BEN - Freddy Adu (goal)
EA - Mateus (goal)
BEN - Christian Rodríguez (goal)
EA - Tiago Gomes (goal)
BEN - Hans-Jörg Butt (saved)
EA - Cardoso (goal)
BEN - Luisão (goal)
EA - Fernando (Goal)
BEN - Fábio Coentrão (goal)
EA - Yoni (over)
BEN - Andrés Diaz (goal)

Line-ups
EA - Pedro Alves; Rui Duarte, Maurício, Hugo Carreira, Cardoso, Yoni, Fernando, Luis Aguiar (Mateus 66'), Tiago Gomes (Wagnão 87'), Nuno Viveiros (Pedro Pereira 77'), Moses Sakyi

BEN - Hans-Jörg Butt; Nélson, Luisão, Marc Zoro, Miguelito, Gilles Binya, Nuno Assis (Andrés Diaz 75'), Maxi Pereira (Freddy Adu 46'), Angel Di Maria (Fábio Coentrão 63'), Christian Rodríguez, Yu Dabao