Former champion AC Milan squeezed into the quarterfinals of the Champions League football on Tuesday, though not as comfortably as expected as it lost 0-3 at Arsenal to progress 4-3 on aggregate.
Milan — which was conceding three goals in the Champions League for the first time since April 2004 when it went on to lose 0-4 to Deportivo La Coruna — was joined in the last eight by the Portuguese side Benfica.
Benfica produced a professional performance to beat Russian champion Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 on the night — 4-3 on aggregate — to end a three-game winless streak and make the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006.
Looking for a five-goal winning margin, Arsenal had got off to just the start it hoped for, and Milan feared, grabbing an early goal as defender Laurent Koscielny rose unmarked to head home.
Its spirits soared when Czech international Tomas Rosicky, passed fit just before the game, doubled its lead after tucking the ball home inside the near post and then again when Robin van Persie scored from the penalty spot.
van Persie, however, spurned a superb chance to level the game on aggregate early in the second-half but with the Milan 'keeper on the ground and the goal at his mercy he chose the wrong option and Christian Abbiatti was able to gather the ball again and clear the danger.
Milan, too, had a rare chance to put the tie to bed but Antonio Nocerino shot tamely at Polish 'keeper Wojciech Szczesny.
Calmer affair
The match in Lisbon was a far calmer affair but the host went in cheered up after taking the lead on the stroke of half-time as Uruguayan Maxi Pereira shot home after a brilliant back-heel by Axel Witsel set him up to put it level on aggregate but ahead on away goals.
Benfica should have taken a 2-0 lead early in the second-half but Jardel headed over the bar when well placed to score.
However, a solid second half performance from the host was capped when Nelson Oliveira, who had only come on with 10 minutes remaining, scored its second in added-on time to secure its place in the last eight.
Pereira and coach Jorge Jesus now believe Benfica could go all the way and win the trophy for the third time and first since 1962.
“We deserved to win and I'm really happy with this result,” said Pereira.
The results:
At London: Arsenal 3 (Koscielny 7, Rosicky 26, Van Persie 43) bt AC Milan 0 (AC Milan wins 4-3 on aggregate).
At Lisbon: Benfica 2 (Maxi Pereira 45+1, Oliveira 90+3) bt Zenit St. Petersburg 0 (Benfica wins 4-3 on aggregate).
