S.L. Benfica confirmed their place in the Champions League final eight by producing a solid and nearly convincing performance in the second leg of the round of 16 against Zenit St. Petersburg.
The 2009-10 Primeira Liga champions resumed their Champions League tie against Zenit having conceded a one-goal advantage when the two teams previously faced off in Russia.
Zenit, the 2008 UEFA Super Cup and 2010 Russian Premier League winners, won 3-2 in a tight first leg encounter that was magnified by goalkeeping blunders.
Through Benfica proving incapable of winning that opening tie in St. Petersburg, the Russian side were in a positive position heading into the second tie in Lisbon.
The first half in was a tough and physical Champions League clash, with both teams going hard at the ball with no relenting.
Benfica had many opportunities to attack Zenit’s goal, but nothing translated to scoring in the opening 40 minutes.
As Zenit pushed their defensive line back and looked to keep Benfica’s strikers at bay, the away side’s defensive structure was eventually broken down.
Late in first-half stoppage time Bruno Cesar played a ball through to Axel Witsel inside the box. The Zenit goalkeeper managed to keep out Witsel’s shot, but the rebound went back to the Belgium international.
The defensive midfielder for Benfica then made a clever flick pass which landed perfectly for Uruguayan international Maxi Pereira, who slotted in the opening goal of the match and to level the Champions League tie 3-3.
It put the Portugese club ever closer to a quarter-final berth in football’s most prestigious club tournament.
With Zenit losing their advantage in the first stanza, the Russian side needed an equaliser to keep their Champions League hopes alive in 2012.
Zenit had no choice but to push their defensive line forward and move their strikers through to the ball.
But nothing was forthcoming for the Russian club in another 40 minutes.
As Zenit’s chances at goal missed the mark so did their chances of progressing in the Champions League.
For 90 minutes, Zenit couldn’t break the structure of Benfica’s defensive line, and they paid the price.
Late in second half stoppage time, a quick counter-attack deep from Benfica’s half resulted in the Brazilian international Bruno Cesar running through an ample space, to find Nelson Oliveira inside the penalty area for a simple finish.
The 2-0 win sets up a quarter-final berth against AC Milan, Real Madrid or Barcelona, with many strong clubs remaining in this year’s UEFA Champions League.
Benfica won 4-3 on aggregate against the Russian champions, and drew ever closer to a 2012 UEFA Champions League title. Zenit’s journey reached its zenith in the round of 16.
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