UCL: Benfica edge past Monaco to reach Champions League last 16
Benfica secured a dramatic 3-3 draw against Monaco on Tuesday to reach the Champions League last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate victory in the play-off round.
Monaco led twice on the night and came close to forcing extra time, but Orkun Kökçü’s 84th-minute equaliser helped Benfica scrape through in Lisbon, with Barcelona or Liverpool awaiting in the next round.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu put the hosts ahead against the run of play, with Takumi Minamino levelling for Monaco after 32 minutes.
Eliesse Ben Seghir fired the visitors in front, but Vangelis Pavlidis converted from the penalty spot to keep the score tied on the night.
French youngster George Ilenikhena netted in the 81st minute for Monaco, but Kökçü prodded home soon after to send Benfica through.
“It was a tough night. We knew Monaco would put pressure on us from the start, and we felt it—we didn’t play our best game,” Kökçü told SportTV.
“Still, we’re happy to have progressed to the last 16, and I’m pleased to have contributed to the result.”
Monaco had thrashed Nantes 7-1 on Saturday in Ligue 1, sharpening their attack ahead of their crucial test at the Estádio da Luz.
Both sides were missing key players through injury and suspension, with Benfica without Ángel Di María, among others, while Monaco started with just one recognised midfielder.
Wingers Maghnes Akliouche and Ben Seghir played in more central roles than usual and both impressed in Lisbon, despite ending up on the losing side.
Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin made a strong early save to deny Monaco’s Krépin Diatta, as the Ligue 1 side looked to get back on level terms in the tie and dominated the first half.
However, it was the hosts who took the lead after brilliant work by Benfica striker Pavlidis.
The Greek forward, who netted a hat-trick against Barcelona in the group stage, turned provider this time. After darting into the area, he crossed to the back post for Aktürkoğlu to turn home.
Swiss international Breel Embolo almost levelled for Monaco, but his header struck the post—although the visitors found the net less than a minute later.
Embolo held off veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi, allowing former Liverpool attacker Minamino space to fire a shot past Trubin at the near post.
Monaco should have gone ahead just before half-time, but Embolo blazed a glorious chance over the crossbar after the impressive Akliouche surged through midfield and set him up.
‘A Lot of Fight’
Ben Seghir forced Trubin into a fine save early in the second half before pulling Monaco level at 2-2 on aggregate in the 51st minute.
The Moroccan winger produced a deadly accurate first-time finish inside the near post after Akliouche cut the ball back to him from the right.
Bruno Lage’s side struggled to gain a foothold in the match, but Thilo Kehrer handed the hosts a lifeline when he attempted to clear the ball, only to mistime his challenge and catch Fredrik Aursnes in the box.
Pavlidis, who had scored the only goal of the first leg, powered home from the spot for his seventh goal of the tournament.
Ilenikhena restored Monaco’s lead on the night just seconds after coming off the bench, with Trubin unable to keep out his low, rifled effort despite getting a hand to it.
Adi Hütter’s side, however, could not hold on for more than three minutes, as Álvaro Carreras fired in a dangerous cross that Benfica midfielder Kökçü flicked home.
Benfica were awarded another penalty in stoppage time when Diatta appeared to bring down Samuel Dahl, but the referee overturned the decision after a VAR review.
“What made the difference today was 100 per cent the team’s spirit—we showed a lot of fight,” said Dahl.
“The game had its ups and downs; they attacked, we attacked… in the end, we scored three goals.
“We also conceded three, but we advanced, which was the main objective.”
AFP
