Benfica stuns Zenit to reach Champions League quarters

Saint Petersburg - Nicolas Gaitan and Talisca scored late goals as Benfica came from behind to beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 in Russia on Wednesday and march on to the Champions League quarter-finals 3-1 on aggregate.

Trailing 1-0 from last month's first leg, Zenit levelled the tie when Hulk opened the scoring on the night in the 69th minute and extra time was looming. But Gaitan stunned the Petrovsky Stadium by netting at the other end five minutes from the end.

Substitute Talisca wrapped up the victory with the last kick of the game as the Portuguese league leader progressed to the last eight of the Champions League for the first time since 2012, when they also eliminated Zenit at this stage.

Benfica travelled to Russia with the edge in the tie thanks to a solitary late strike by Jonas in the first leg last month, but Zenit will rue a host of missed chances in the second half.

The Russian side's dream of reaching the Champions League last eight for the first time died in the chill of Saint Petersburg.