LISBON (AFP) - Benfica ensured Celtic's miserable away record in the Champions League continued after Oscar Cardozo's late goal handed them a 1-0 victory here on Wednesday.

The Paraguayan striker had spurned a number of chances throughout the match and it had looked as if the Scottish champions would be able to hang on for a rare away point in the competition.

But with only three minutes remaining Cardozo was played in by substitute Angel Di Maria and duly broke Celtic's spirits to give Benfica their first victory in Group D.

The result means Celtic and Benfica are both on three points in the section, behind Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk and AC Milan who have six points apiece.

Having lost their opening two games in Group D Benfica started in a determined manner to get their Champions League campaign up and running.

However, with Celtic setting out to keep things tight, the Portuguese side were unable to trouble the visitor's Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc in the opening stages.

The Scottish side have an awful away record in the competition - with only one draw and 13 defeats in their 14 games before Wednesday - and they almost gifted their hosts the lead in the 23rd minute.

Ireland international Aiden McGeady's misplaced header allowed Leo to race in on goal, his cut back then seemingly created an easy chance for Cardozo but from eight-yards out the Paraguayan failed to get any contact on the ball, under pressure from Stephen McManus.

Celtic were soaking up a lot of pressure but in the 33rd minute only a good save prevented them taking the lead.

Paul Hartley's free-kick was nodded down by New Zealand striker Chris Killen for the onrushing Massimo Donati but the Italian's first-time effort from 12-yards was palmed away by Benfica goalkeeper Quim.

At the other end Boruc was called into action for the first time in the 43rd minute, tipping Konstantinos Katsouranis' net-bound header over his crossbar with an acrobatic leap.

Benfica began the second half with renewed vigour and were again denied by some fantastic goalkeeping in the 51st minute.

Cristian Rodriguez's chip across goal was met by Cardozo and his downward header, from only a few yards out, looked a certain goal until Boruc flung himself low to his right to push the ball away.

A minute later Rui Costa set himself up by rolling the ball through the legs of Donati in the penalty area but then ruined his good work by blasting the ball well over from a tight angle.

Celtic were in danger of being overrun but in the 59th minute McGeady went close to putting them in front when he cut in from the right and struck a powerful shot which required Quim to tip round his post at full-stretch.

Benfica were still doing most of the attacking and within two minutes they were denied twice by the woodwork.

First Rodriguez's shot from 20-yards in the 64th minute was spilled by Boruc into the path of Cardozo who should have done better than smashing the ball off the bar from six-yards.

And then in the 66th minute Cardozo was again inches away from the opener when he spun away from defender John Kennedy and curled a shot past Boruc but which bounced back off the bottom of the post.

But just as it looked like it was not going to be Cardozo or Benfica's night he popped up to score a dramatic late winner in the 87th minute.

Argentine substitute Di Maria's chip over the Celtic defence picked out the Paraguayan perfectly and he chested the ball down before poking it beyond Boruc from eight-yards.