Soccer-Benfica see off Monaco in thriller to reach last 16

Soccer Football - Champions League - Knockout Phase Playoff - Second Leg - Benfica v AS Monaco - Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal - February 18, 2025 Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

LISBON (Reuters) - Benfica held determined AS Monaco to a 3-3 draw in a thrilling second leg of their Champions League knockout phase playoff on Tuesday for a 4-3 aggregate win that earned the hosts a place in the competition's last 16.

Benfica, who had a one-goal advantage from the first leg, went up 1-0 in the 22nd minute through a close-range strike by winger Kerem Akturkoglu after a fine pass from Vangelis Pavlidis.