Benfica 1-0 Zenit
An injury-time goal gave Benfica a precious lead to take to Russia in three weeks' time as the Eagles continue their impressive Champions League campaign.
A cagey match of few chances seemed to be drifting to a goalless draw, but with Zenit reduced to ten men Jonas headed in Gaitán's pinpoint free kick to trigger wild celebrations among the home players and fans in Lisbon tonight.
Having kept a clean sheet, Benfica have given themselves a good shot at reaching the quarter-finals of the world's greatest club competition.
Benfica coach Rui Vitória stuck with the same starting XI he picked against FC Porto last Friday, while Zenit was packed with familiar names for Portuguese football fans. Ex Benfica trio Garay, Witsel and Javi Garcia returned to the Estádio da Luz, as did former Porto star Hulk and Portugal international Danny.
The hosts enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages but were finding no penetration, with Witsel and Garcia sitting deep and offering a strong protective barrier in front of the Zenit back four. The visitors looked the more dangerous side in the early stages when they broke quickly, but Lindelöf made some fine interceptions at key moments and Eliseu did a good job keeping Hulk in check.
On 18 minutes Benfica at last created a chance, as a neat passing move saw Almeida cross for Pizzi in an inviting shooting position but instead of hitting it first time the midfielder took an extra touch then was forced into a rushed shot that Lodygin easily dealt with.
Suspensions for second leg
Jonas was not far away with a long-range effort on the half-hour mark that was deflected just wide, but neither side were creating real chances and it was no surprise when the half-time whistle went with the game still goalless. Not that it lacked intensity, and yellow cards for both André Almeida and Jardel sees the Benfica defenders missing the second leg through suspension.
The second half was not a whole lot different with both sides doing a good job at stifling their adversary's most dangerous players. In the 52nd minute Witsel escaped the attentions of two opponents, glided towards the edge of the box and unleashed a fierce low shot that drew a sharp save out of Júlio César.
On 69 minutes it was Lodygin's turn to shine, the Zenit goalkeeper doing well to keep out Gaitán's firm close-range shot after the Argentine had done well to engineer space for himself. Soon afterwards Benfica's centre-backs combined to almost make the breakthrough, the excellent Lindelöf heading across goal for Jardel to shoot narrowly wide.
Fans do their bit
The noisy crowd of close to 50,000 attempted to rouse Benfica for a final push but as the clock ticked down it appeared the stalemate would persist. Then Criscito clumsily clattered into the back of André Almeida, drawing a second yellow card and subsequent red. Benfica had four minutes of stoppage time to try and grab a winner against ten men.
As it happened they took advantage immediately, as Gaitán's resulting free kick was met by Jonas, with Jardel doing a good job at preventing a trio of Zenit defenders from getting in a defensive header, and Benfica were one-nil up. There was still time for Samaris to draw a flying save out of Lodygin with a 20-yard cross-shot.
Benfica will travel to Saint Petersburg on 9 March confident that they can make it to the last eight.
by Tom Kundert, at the Estádio da Luz
Benfica: Júlio César, André Almeida, Jardel, Lindelöf, Eliseu, Samaris, Renato Sanches, Pizzi (Carcela, 71’), Gaitám, Jonas, Mitroglou (Jiménez, 63’)
Zenit: Lodygin, Anyukov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito, Javi García, Witsel, Hulk, Danny (Maurício, 87’), Shatov (Zhirkov, 81’), Dzyuba (Kokorin, 73’)
Goals:
[1-0] Jonas, 91’
