Feyenoord put themselves firmly back in contention to progress in the Champions League with a gutsy win against Benfica in Portugal.

The Rotterdammers took a two-goal lead into half-time through Ayase Ueda’s crisp finish and a thunderbolt from Antoni Milambo, before Kerem Aktürkoglu’s tap-in for Benfica set up a nerve-wracking last 25 minutes.

But Milambo had the last word when he drove in a low shot from a free-kick in the second minute of stoppage time.

Quinten Timber had a hand in both Feyenoord’s first-half goals. The midfielder unlocked Benfica’s defence in the 12th minute with a precise through-ball that allowed Igor Paixão to outpace the defence and lay the bal into the path of Ueda, who made no mistake.

Ayase looked to have bagged a second 12 minutes later when he poked home from close range, but the effort was ruled out for an earlier foul.

Milambo doubled the lead just after half an hour after Timber found the midfielder in space on the edge of the penalty area and he stepped inside Nicolas Otamendi before smashing a shot through the legs of Anatoliy Trubin.

Offside goals

Feyenoord had another goal disallowed early in the second half when Gernot Trauner tapped in a rebounded shot from an offside position.

Benfica came back into the game and pulled a goal back when Timon Wellenreuther blocked a long-range shot by Jan-Niklas Beste straight into the path of Aktürkoglu, who had the simplest of finishes.

But Feyenoord had the last word when Paixão stroked a free-kick near the corner flag straight to the unmarked Milambo on the edge of the penalty area, and the 19-year-old calmly slotted the ball home.

The result lifts Feyenoord to 16th place in the 36-team table, firmly in the play-off zone and level on points with Benfica.

Their next match is at home to Salzburg, who have lost all three three Champions League group games so far, on November 6.