Benfica held determined AS Monaco to a 3-3 draw in a thrilling second leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff on Tuesday for a 4-3 aggregate win that earned the hosts a place in the competition’s last 16.
Benfica, who had a one-goal advantage from the first leg, opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with winger Kerem Akturkoglu’s close-range strike after a fine pass from Vangelis Pavlidis.
But Monaco had the hosts on the ropes for much of the match and midfielder Takumi Minamino equalised with a simple finish 10 minutes later before Eliesse Ben Seghir put them in front after the break with a stunning first-time shot inside the right post.
Benfica were then awarded a penalty and Pavlidis coolly converted from the spot to make it 2-2 before Monaco substitute George Ilenikhena and Benfica’s Orkun Kokcu added a goal each late on.
“It was a hard game with lots of running, but in the end I am really happy that I could score and help us go through to the next stage,” said player of the match Kokcu.
Benfica will be up against either Liverpool or Barcelona in the last 16, depending on Friday’s draw.
The Portuguese side, who had already beaten Monaco twice this season with a 3-2 away win also in the tournament’s league phase, have never lost at home to a French club.
Monaco gave their travelling fans reasons to believe in a turnaround but an early golden chance by Krepin Diatta to level the tie on aggregate was denied by Benfica keeper Anatoliy Trubin.
The hosts grew into the game and Akturkoglu opened the scoring after Pavlidis recovered the ball just outside the box before squaring it across the face of the goal to the Turkey forward, who scored into an empty net.
BATTLING MONACO
Monaco were rewarded for their strong start and seconds after Breel Embolo hit the post, Minamino equalised in the 32nd minute.
Embolo then misfired an excellent chance in first-half stoppage time as Monaca were on the front foot before and after the restart.
Trubin kept out a powerful attempt by Eliesse Ben Seghir two minutes into the second half. But there was little the Ukrainian goalkeeper could do when the 20-year-old eventually gave Monaco the lead in the 51st minute.
Maghnes Akliouche drove the ball into the box before squaring it to Ben Seghir, who curled it home beautifully.
Benfica were awarded a penalty after Monaco’s Thilo Kehrer brought down Fredrik Aursnes which Pavlidis made no mistake firing home.
Pavlidis, who joined the Portuguese side in July from AZ Alkmaar, has seven goals in the competition this season.
Ilenikhena raised the visitors’ hopes when he restored the lead for Monaco in the 81st minute, aiming low into the middle of the goal in a solo effort seconds after entering the pitch.
But Kokcu levelled for Benfica three minutes later from a perfect cross by Alvaro Carreras.
