Freddy Adu makes debut at Benfica

Freddy Adu made his European debut Tuesday, drawing cheers when he entered as a first-half substitute for Benfica of Portugal during its 2-1 Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen. The 18-year-old American came on about 10 minutes before halftime after Copenhagen had tied the score 1-1 in the first-leg, third-round qualifying game. Adu's team travels to Copenhagen for the second leg.

Benfica coach Fernando Santos had said he intended to ease Adu gently into the team after he arrived in Lisbon at the end of last month. Adu missed all of Benfica's preseason games.  Benfica, the two-time European champion, was struggling and needed some zip in its attack. Adu's entrance brought a loud cheer from the crowd of 55,000 at the Stadium of Light.

Adu, one of the highest-profile players in Major League Soccer, got a taste of how hard it is to please Benfica's fans. The team was jeered off the field at halftime.  MLS and Benfica agreed at the end of last month to a $2 million transfer fee for Adu, the U.S. captain at the under-20 World Cup in Canada in July who long sought a move to European soccer. Adu signed with D.C. United in 2003 at 14, becoming the youngest player in MLS history.

On Tuesday, Adu began in his usual forward-midfield role before alternating between the wings during the second half. He shied away from dribbling runs at the defense and mostly favored quick, short passes.  Early in the second half, he set up Oscar Cardozo, whose header was kept out by the goalie's fingertips. With 10 minutes to play, Adu tried a bicycle kick, but the shot went far wide of the goal.  A scrappy defense prevented Adu from getting any more possessions, and he rarely dented the defense.