Benfica beats Anderlecht 2-0 in Champions League

LISBON, Portugal (AP) Filip Djuricic and Luisao scored goals in the first half-hour to help Benfica to a 2-0 win over Anderlecht in their Champions League Group C opener on Tuesday.

Djuricic tapped in after Silvio Proto failed to hold a shot from Enzo Perez in the fourth minute as the Belgian club gave way under Benfica's early pressure.

Brazilian central defender Luisao neatly controlled the ball on his chest inside the Anderlecht area and volleyed into the net for Benfica's second goal.

Anderlecht's last group stage away win in the Champions League was in 2005.

Benfica lost the Europa League final against Chelsea last season in what was its first continental final in 23 years.

Anderlecht struggled to find its rhythm at the Stadium of Light, where the Champions League final will be played, and consistently sent long passes down to Matias Suarez on the right flank.

Oscar Cardozo twice tested Proto, and Djuricic shot just past the post as the Lisbon team overwhelmed Anderlecht's defense in the opening period.

Anderlecht was sharper after halftime, with a pair of efforts from Aleksandar Mitrovic and the irrepressible Suarez forcing Artur to dive quickly to his right.

Cardozo was a constant menace for the defense, though, and narrowly missed with a 70th-minute chance inside the Anderlecht area.