Zenit undone by Benfica’s double blast

Benfica produced a dynamic performance to overturn a first-leg deficit against Zenit St Petersburg and earn a place in the last eight of the Champions League last night.

The Portuguese team trailed 3-2 from the first match but they attacked the Russian outfit from the off and, even when Maxi Pereira’s goal in first-half injury-time put them on course to win on away goals, the Eagles pushed on until Nelson Oliveira secured the outright win in the 92nd minute.

A quiet opening saw Nicolas Gaitan’s shot the only moment of interest, as the Benfica midfielder’s left-footed effort from the edge of the box was blocked by Nicolas Lombaerts.

The attacking waves continued as Rodrigo saw a right-footed shot blocked by the ever-alert Lombaerts in the Zenit defence.

Tomas Hubocan had Zenit’s first shot in the 43rd minute but he 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 close range shot saved by Malafeev.

Zenit were 1-0 down less than a minute later though. Witsel sent the ball in from the right and Pereira arrived to guide the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

The Russian side pressed but Benfica had further chances through Witsel and Jardel.

Substitute Nelson Oliveira secured the aggregate win two minutes into added time by getting on the end of Bruno Cesar’s clever pass and firing home a deflected effort from 12 yards.

BENFICA: Moraes, Pereira, Luisao, Jardel, Emerson, Witsel, Garcia, Gaitan (Matic 71), Moreno (Nolito 62), Cardozo (Oliveira 80),Cesar.

ZENIT: Malafeev, Aniukov (Alves 53), Hubocan, Lombaerts, Criscito, Denisov, Semak, Shirokov, Bystrov (Lazovic 46), Kerzhakov, Zyryanov (Faitzulin 71).

Referee: Howard Webb (England).