Benfica progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after a lacklustre 2-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg.
Zenit unable to hold onto first leg advantage in Champions League
Benfica progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after a lacklustre 2-0 win over Zenit St Petersburg.
Maxi Pereira's goal in first-half stoppage-time leveled the aggregate score at 3-3, before Nelson Oliveira added some gloss to the scoreline in the 93rd minute.
The hosts were the better side on the night as Zenit failed to cause Artur Moraes any real problems in the Benfica goal.
A quiet opening to the clash saw Nicolas Gaitan's shot the only moment of interest, as the Benfica midfielder's drilled left-footed effort from the edge of the box was blocked by Nicolas Lombaerts.
Bruno Cesar was next to have a go when his left-footed shot forced Viacheslav Malafeev into a smart parry away.
Playmaker Gaitan continued to beaver away earnestly in a bid to create something before Maxi Pereira fired off target. The attacking waves continued as Rodrigo saw a right-footed shot blocked by the ever-alert Lombaerts in the Zenit defence.
In the 25th minute Javi Garcia was next to see an effort stopped by the all-action Lombaerts, who kept putting his body on the line for the Russians' cause.
Defender Emerson fired over from 25 yards and Bruno Cesar was similarly wayward as half-time approached.
Tomas Hubocan had Zenit's first shot in the 43rd minute but failed to beat Artur Moraes, who saved comfortably, before Axel Witsel wasted arguably Benfica's best chance in first-half added time when he saw his shot from close range saved by Malafeev.
Warning
Zenit failed to heed the warning, though, and it was 1-0 on the night less than a minute later. Witsel sent the ball in from the right and Pereira arrived to guide the ball from from inside the six-yard box.
Zenit sent on Danko Lazovic in a bid to enliven their performance, knowing Benfica's away goals were sending them through.
The Russian side were pressing but Benfica had further chances through Witsel and Jardel.
Oscar Cardozo wasted two shots for the hosts but got a third on target, while Jardel headed wide with less than 10 minutes to go.
Former Porto defender Bruno Alves saw a speculative effort easily caught by Benfica stopper Artur.
Nelson Oliveira was off target but, after Viktor Faitzulin's poor effort at the other end, the substitute secured the aggregate win two minutes into added time by getting on the end of Bruno Cesar's clever pass from the right and firing home a slightly deflected effort from 12 yards.
