Simao Sabrosa bagged a brace, the second coming with two minutes remaining, as Benfica advanced into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup at the expense of Paris St Germain.
Benfica 3 Paris St Germain 1 (Benfica win 4-3 on aggregate)
Coming into the tie 2-1 behind from the first leg, the Portuguese side went in front in the tie when Simao and Armando Petit scored in the opening half-hour.
Pedro Pauleta brought the aggregate scores level at 3-3 when he headed home in the 32nd minute, but Simao proved to be the matchwinner by slotting home a late penalty to break PSG hearts.
The home captain put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute, sliding the ball under Mickael Landreau with aplomb from 12 yards.
Three minutes later Nuno Gomes flicked a deep cross back into the area, but Fabrizio Miccoli's volley hit the bar and then Georgios Karagounis' low drive was tipped onto the post by Landreau.
In the 27th minute, Petit strode forward, and with PSG centre-back David Rozehnal backing off, the midfielder chipped Landreau and in off the bar from 25 yards.
In a to-and-fro game, Pauleta brought the aggregate scores level when he got on the end of a 32nd-minute Jerome Rothen left-wing cross and headed under Moretto from eight yards out.
Pauleta, Amara Diane and Sammy Traore all wasted great opportunites late in the half to pull PSG level on the night.
With the game on a knife edge, the second half was not quite so frantic, but Benfica still looked more threatening, Miccoli sending a 70th-minute shot straight at Landreau.
Simao then fired over from 12 yards with nine minutes left, but they got their reward in the 88th minute when Leo was upended by Youssouf Mulumbu in the box.
Mulumbu was sent off - it was his second yellow card - and Simao slammed home the penalty to send Benfica through.
Coming into the tie 2-1 behind from the first leg, the Portuguese side went in front in the tie when Simao and Armando Petit scored in the opening half-hour.
Pedro Pauleta brought the aggregate scores level at 3-3 when he headed home in the 32nd minute, but Simao proved to be the matchwinner by slotting home a late penalty to break PSG hearts.
The home captain put the hosts ahead in the 12th minute, sliding the ball under Mickael Landreau with aplomb from 12 yards.
Three minutes later Nuno Gomes flicked a deep cross back into the area, but Fabrizio Miccoli's volley hit the bar and then Georgios Karagounis' low drive was tipped onto the post by Landreau.
In the 27th minute, Petit strode forward, and with PSG centre-back David Rozehnal backing off, the midfielder chipped Landreau and in off the bar from 25 yards.
In a to-and-fro game, Pauleta brought the aggregate scores level when he got on the end of a 32nd-minute Jerome Rothen left-wing cross and headed under Moretto from eight yards out.
Pauleta, Amara Diane and Sammy Traore all wasted great opportunites late in the half to pull PSG level on the night.
With the game on a knife edge, the second half was not quite so frantic, but Benfica still looked more threatening, Miccoli sending a 70th-minute shot straight at Landreau.
Simao then fired over from 12 yards with nine minutes left, but they got their reward in the 88th minute when Leo was upended by Youssouf Mulumbu in the box.
Mulumbu was sent off - it was his second yellow card - and Simao slammed home the penalty to send Benfica through.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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