PERISTERONA, Cyprus (Interstat) — Benfica recovered from an early deficit and scored four unanswered goals to defeat Omonia 4-1 on Thursday at Stadio Katokopia-Epistrofi-Glafkos Kliridis in Peristerona.

Fredrik Aursnes scored in the 76th minute to put Benfica ahead for good, one of the key attacking contributions in a match that turned after halftime. Andronikos Kakoulis had given Omonia a 42nd-minute lead, finishing the opening goal before the break. Vangelis Pavlidis equalized for Benfica in the 49th minute, converting early in the second half to shift the momentum.

Jaden Montnor recorded an assist for Omonia while playing 81 minutes, and Kakoulis remained the home side’s central attacking figure until he was substituted in the 61st minute. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni scored in the 85th minute and was booked in the 90th. Dodi Lukebakio, who played seven minutes, supplied an assist. Benfica’s fourth goal came during its late surge, completing a four-goal run after Omonia’s opener.

The attacking returns were spread across both lineups. Aursnes had one goal, Pavlidis scored once in 77 minutes, Prestianni scored once and received a yellow card in 21 minutes, and Lukebakio had an assist in seven minutes. For Omonia, Kakoulis scored once in 61 minutes and Montnor had an assist in 81 minutes.

Omonia had a chance to protect its early advantage but could not hold the lead once Benfica found rhythm after the interval. Omonia made its first change in the 50th minute with Costa Ewandro, then brought on Tanase F. and removed Kakoulis in the 61st minute. Benfica altered its shape in the 69th minute with Rafa Silva, Echeverri C. and Manu Silva, then replaced Pavlidis in the 77th. Benfica also made a change in the 83rd minute with Schjelderup A. as it closed out the match. Omonia later used Montnor J. and Andreou P. in the 81st minute. Omonia could not find a second goal after halftime.

Yellow cards accumulated in the second half. Benfica’s Araujo was booked in the 62nd minute, Palhinha in the 83rd, El Karouani in the 88th and Prestianni in the 90th. Omonia’s Diony was booked in the 90th minute plus stoppage time. Benfica finished with four yellow cards to Omonia’s one.

Benfica improved to 2-0 in the competition and 3-2 across all competitions. Omonia fell to 1-1 in the competition and 2-1-1 overall. Benfica had entered after a 4-1 win over Celtic in its previous competition match and had also beaten Vitoria Guimaraes 2-0 in an earlier overall match. Benfica had lost 2-0 at GD Alcochetense and 4-1 at Atletico this season. Omonia had beaten Celje 3-0 in its previous competition match, had beaten Karmiotissa 3-0 and had drawn 2-2 with Ol. Nicosia in its most recent overall match. The result leaves Benfica unbeaten in the competition and Omonia with a split in its two competition matches.

The game’s decisive passage came after Pavlidis’ equalizer, when Benfica turned a one-goal deficit into control. Aursnes’ 76th-minute goal gave Benfica the lead, and Prestianni’s 85th-minute strike extended the advantage during a closing stretch in which Omonia could not respond. Benfica’s late scoring run made the difference after Omonia had taken the first lead through Kakoulis. The visitors’ pressure after the break produced goals in the 49th, 76th and 85th minutes. Benfica added another goal in the closing stages to complete the scoring. Omonia’s first-half lead was its only goal, while Benfica answered with four goals after the 42nd minute.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Benfica 2, Omonia 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Benfica with a 98.1 percent probability to win. Benfica had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 3.25.