Benfica dreams again after Champions League win in Russia jawans

Beaten 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate, Zenit bowed out of European football's top club competition on an evening which took a decidedly Portuguese feel -- with the freezing cold weather being the notable exception.

Zenit, after all, has been prodigious in its recruitment process in recent years as it bids to join football's top table.

Read: Ibrahimovic ends Chelsea hopes



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The Russian club possesses a sizable contingent sourced from warmer climes, not to mention a Portuguese manager -- and key men such as Ezequiel Garay, Axel Witsel and Javi Garcia were all once Benfica players.

This, though, was not to be its year.

Benfica held a slender 1-0 advantage after the first leg, and Zenit's uphill task eventually told.

Though former Porto forward Hulk restored parity for the home team with 20 minutes to play, Villas Boas' expensively-assembled side could not go the distance.

Nicolás Gaitán's 85th-minute equalizer came out of nothing.

As Raul Jimenez's 30-yard snapshot was palmed unconvincingly onto the crossbar, the impressive Gaitán stole in and gratefully nodded home the rebound, dispelling any lingering Zenit hopes in an instant.

Read: Real Madrid through to quarterfinals

It was a bitter blow for the home side, which had been poised until then for extra time and a chance to become the first Russian side to make the quarterfinals since CSKA Moscow six years ago.

As it was, with Zenit pushing forward more out of desperation than expectation in the dying embers of the contest, Benfica substitute Talisca made it 2-1 in added time, adding gloss to the win for the traveling side.

As the ball crossed the line with the referee's whistle inches from his lips, the Benfica bench erupted in celebration -- the game was up.

The Portuguese league leader takes its place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.

With exciting young talent from their academy like the 18-year-old Rentato Sanches in its side, the European champions of 1961 and 1962 can dream again.

Who will win the Champions League? Tell us on CNN FC's Facebook page

As Raul Jimenez's 30-yard snapshot was palmed unconvincingly onto the crossbar, the impressive Gaitán stole in and gratefully nodded home the rebound, dispelling any lingering Zenit hopes in an instant. Nicolás Gaitán's 85th-minute equalizer came out of nothing. Who will win the Champions League? Tell us on CNN FC's Facebook page This, though, was not to be its year. Who will win the Champions League? Tell us on CNN FC's Facebook page As the ball crossed the line with the referee's whistle inches from his lips, the Benfica bench erupted in celebration -- the game was up. Nicolás Gaitán's 85th-minute equalizer came out of nothing. Though former Porto forward Hulk restored parity for the home team with 20 minutes to play, Villas Boas' expensively-assembled side could not go the distance. The Portuguese league leader takes its place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign. It was a bitter blow for the home side, which had been poised until then for extra time and a chance to become the first Russian side to make the quarterfinals since CSKA Moscow six years ago. As it was, with Zenit pushing forward more out of desperation than expectation in the dying embers of the contest, Benfica substitute Talisca made it 2-1 in added time, adding gloss to the win for the traveling side. Beaten 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate, Zenit bowed out of European football's top club competition on an evening which took a decidedly Portuguese feel -- with the freezing cold weather being the notable exception. Though former Porto forward Hulk restored parity for the home team with 20 minutes to play, Villas Boas' expensively-assembled side could not go the distance. Who will win the Champions League? Tell us on CNN FC's Facebook page It was a bitter blow for the home side, which had been poised until then for extra time and a chance to become the first Russian side to make the quarterfinals since CSKA Moscow six years ago. The Russian club possesses a sizable contingent sourced from warmer climes, not to mention a Portuguese manager -- and key men such as Ezequiel Garay, Axel Witsel and Javi Garcia were all once Benfica players. This, though, was not to be its year. Nicolás Gaitán's 85th-minute equalizer came out of nothing. Zenit, after all, has been prodigious in its recruitment process in recent years as it bids to join football's top table. As the ball crossed the line with the referee's whistle inches from his lips, the Benfica bench erupted in celebration -- the game was up. As it was, with Zenit pushing forward more out of desperation than expectation in the dying embers of the contest, Benfica substitute Talisca made it 2-1 in added time, adding gloss to the win for the traveling side. Though former Porto forward Hulk restored parity for the home team with 20 minutes to play, Villas Boas' expensively-assembled side could not go the distance. Beaten 2-1 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate, Zenit bowed out of European football's top club competition on an evening which took a decidedly Portuguese feel -- with the freezing cold weather being the notable exception.

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