A fortuitous goal from winger Kerem Akturkoglu and a superb free kick by his Turkish compatriot Orkun Kokcu earned Benfica a 2-1 victory at Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League encounter on Thursday.

Akturkoglu opened the scoring for the Portuguese side in the ninth minute, converting a cross at the far post from close range.

Kokcu then doubled the advantage a minute before the half-hour mark with a meticulously placed free kick curl from around 25 metres, finding the net just inside the top right corner.

Red Star reduced the deficit when Felicio Milson was played through and scored from close range four minutes before time, but they were unable to find an equaliser.