Champions League

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Champions League | Round-Of-16

Mar 9, 2016 at 5pm UK

Zenit Zenit St Petersburg
1-2
Benfica

Hulk (69')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Gaitan (85'), Talisca (96')

Benfica sneak past Zenit St Petersburg to reach Champions League quarter-finals

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 09 March 2016

Nicolas Gaitan's late goal helps Benfica to a 3-1 aggregate victory over Zenit St Petersburg in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Two late goals have sent Benfica through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Zenit St Petersburg's expense.

The Portuguese side led 1-0 after the first leg and it looked like the tie was going to extra time tonight until Nicolas Gaitan struck to end Zenit's hopes.

Benfica's top scorer Jonas, who scored the late winner in a cagey first leg, was first to threaten tonight with a free kick that Yuri Lodygin tipped over.

The handsome Nicolas Lombaerts and Jonas in action during the thrilling Champions League game between Zenit and Benfica on March 9, 2016 © Getty Images

Zenit then went close through Artem Dzyuba, who rolled the challenge of Andreas Samaris before shooting just wide of the far post.

Both sides continued to create regular openings in the first half, with Renato Sanches firing just wide for the visitors before Dzyuba was denied by Ederson Moraes just as he was about to lift into the net.

Zenit were the better team immediately after the interval and should have gone in front on the hour mark when Hulk crossed for substitute Igor Smolnikov, who could only mishit the ball straight at Ederson from close range.

That sparked a flurry of openings, with Dzyuba firing over moments later before Jonas was denied by Lodygin's smart save.

Nicolas Gaitan and Mauricio in action during the thrilling Champions League game between Zenit and Benfica on March 9, 2016 © AFP

The deadlock was broken in the 69th minute and it was Hulk who levelled the tie, heading home from close range after Yuri Zhirkov had won possession and raced into the area.

Victor Lindelof almost grabbed a vital away goal for Benfica with a looping header soon after the opener, while Zenit almost went in front in the tie for the first time when Dzyuba was denied after a powerful run into the area.

The tie seemed to be heading for extra time until the 85th minute, when Benfica substitute Raul Jimenez audaciously tried his luck from 30 yards. Lodygin could only tip the ball against the face of the crossbar and when the ball bounced back into play, Gaitan was there to stoop and head home.

That left Zenit needing two more goals to get through and it was in fact Benfica who found the net again in the final minute of stoppage time as another substitute, Talisca, fired into the net.

For Zenit, they lose at the last-16 stage for the third time in five seasons, while Benfica reach the quarter-finals for the first time in four years.