Lisbon, Feb. 19 -- A below-par Benfica held off a spirited comeback from Monaco in a thrilling draw in Lisbon to seal their place in the Champions League last 16.
Vangelis Pavlidis' superb goal in Monaco last week gave the Portuguese side a 1-0 lead in the play-off first leg, but it was the Ligue 1 side who were superior at the Estadio da Luz, the BBC reported.
Monaco's appeals for an early penalty were denied before Krepin Diatta forced Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin into a superb save.
Despite their slack start, the hosts were gifted a 22nd-minute opener.
Monaco defender Wilfried Singo slipped under pressure and presented the ball to the in-form Pavlidis, who fired across the face of goal for Kerem Akturkoglu to convert on the sli...