Blackburn survived a late scare to record a 3-2 win over Benfica at Estadio da Luz on Friday night.

Rovers were behind within just minutes of the kick-off as Filipe Bastos' shot was saved by Jason Brown, but Jonathan Urretaviscaya (8) found himself in the right place to just squeeze his effort through a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net.

Paul Ince's men were level shortly after the half-hour mark as midfield maestro Morten Gamst Perdersen (33) curled a stupendous 30-yard free-kick which buried itself in the bottom-left corner of the goals.

And just three minutes later the visitors were ahead as Jason Roberts (36) found himself unmarked on the far-post to slot home Rovers' second after the ball had bounce around in the box.

The visitors added a third shortly after the restart as Pedersen's cross found Brett Emerton (51) inside the box and the burly midfielder produced a fine diving header to take the score-line to 3-1.

The Eagles did manage to pull a goal back as shortly after the hour mark as Ariza Makukula (68) found himself perfectly placed to head home after Brown had saved Aimar's drilled effort.

And with just four minutes remaining in the match Aimar found himself through on goal, but after shooting from a tight angle he found his effort cleared off the line by Ryan Nelson.

BLACKBURN: Brown, Reid, Ooijer, Nelsen, Warnock, Emerton, Mokoena, Tugay, Pedersen, Roberts, Santa Cruz.

Subs: Fielding, Treacy, Judge, Fowler, Olsson, Hodge, Kane.

BENFICA: Moreira, Luis Filipe, Edcarlos, Luisao, Bastos, Urreta, Carlos Martins, Nuno Assis, Yeba, Sepsi, Nelson Oliveira.