A Rui Costa double lifted Benfica over FC Copenhagen on Freddy Adu's Champions League debut, while Rangers edged Red Star Belgrade on a last gasp Nacho Nove strike.

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MAESTRO CONDUCTS EAGLES LEAD
Freddy Adu received his debut for the Eagles, but it was veteran Rui Costa who made all the difference as Benfica beat Danish champions FC Copenhagen 2-1 in the first leg of UEFA Champions League qualification round three at Lisbon's Estádio da Luz on Tuesday evening.

The young American replaced an injured Luisão after 36 minutes, but like the rest of his team he had trouble creating anything against a tight Copenhagen defense. His shining moment was a left-footed bicycle kick from the edge of the box with nine minutes to go, but the attempt went both high and wide.

The hosts were dominating from the beginning and the opening goal came in the 25th minute after a lost ball from Rasmus Würtz in midfield. It fell to Rui Costa who fired into the net from 30 yards.

Only 10 minutes later, however, the visitors managed to even the score. A flat cross from Jesper Grønkjær was cleared in defense, but Canada midfielder Atiba Hutchinson was first to the rebound and slotted it into the right side of goal.

The game turned into an even affair with two strong defenses who allowed little in the way of chances. Adu drew one sprawling save from Jesper Christiansen early in the second half, then flicked on for Oscar Cardozo to test FCK the keeper moments later.

The contest looked like a draw until four minutes before time when Rui Costa fired home again from 20 yards, sending the ball inside the near post.

The two sides meet for the second leg at Parken in Copenhagen on August 29th.

Scoring

BEN - Rui Costa 25'
FCK - Atiba Hutchinson 35'
BEN - Rui Costa (Oscar Cardozo) 85'

Line-ups
BEN - Quim, Luis Filipe, Luisão (Freddy Adu 38'), David Luiz, Léo, Konstantinos Katsouranis, Petit, Rui Costa, Oscar Cardozo, Nuno Assis (Nuno Gomes 78'), Gonzalo Bergessio (Fábio Coentrão 46')

FCK - Jesper Christiansen, William Kvist, Michael Gravgaard, Brede Hangeland, Niclas Jensen, Michael Silberbauer, Rasmus Würtz, Hjalte Nørregaard, Atiba Hutchinson, Jesper Grønkjær, Marcus Allbäck (Morten Nordstrand 78')