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Lisbon - Substitute Oscar Cardozo scored two second-half goals to give Benfica a 2-0 win over Spartak Moscow on Wednesday for its first Champions League victory this season.
Cardozo came on at halftime and headed in a cross from Melgarejo in the 55th minute. The Paraguayan extended the Portuguese team's lead in the 69th when he received a pass from Ola John on the flank and struck a left-foot shot past goalkeeper Artem Rebrov.
After two defeats and a draw, the victory kept alive Benfica's hopes of reaching the knockout round from Group G.
The Lisbon club has four points, five behind leader Barcelona and three back from Celtic with two group games left to play.
The Russian team started strongly. Dmitri Kombarov splitting the Benfica defense with a pass for Diniyar Bilyaletdinov in the 14th, but Artur sprinted out to deny him from short range.
Benfica gradually began to pick up the tempo, and Enzo Perez fired just wide of Rebrov's post in the 25th before Jardel came close with a header.
Rebrov was shown a yellow card as Spartak looked to get some breathing space, but Rodrigo kept up the pressure with a header that flew wide.
Cardozo and Lima tormented Rebrov to the end as Spartak faded.
