Nigerian teenager George Ilenikhena was on the scoresheet for AS Monaco, but his side fell short as Benfica secured a place in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win following a thrilling 3-3 draw on Tuesday night.
Benfica, holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in France, took the lead in the 22nd minute when Kerem Aktürkoğlu fired home after a clever pass from Vangelis Pavlidis. However, Monaco responded well, and Takumi Minamino equalised in the 32nd minute, finishing off a flick from Breel Embolo.
The visitors came close to taking the lead before halftime, hitting the post twice and missing a golden chance when Embolo shot over from close range. Their pressure paid off in the 51st minute when Eliesse Ben Seghir slotted home to make it 2-1 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate.
Benfica regained the aggregate lead in the 74th minute through a controversial penalty. VAR determined that Thilo Kehrer had fouled Fredrik Aursnes inside the box, and Pavlidis made no mistake from the spot to put the hosts 3-2 ahead.
More Read
Monaco fought back once again, with Ilenikhena making an instant impact after coming on as a substitute. The 17-year-old capitalised on a defensive error by Nicolás Otamendi in the 81st minute, racing through on goal and firing past Anatoliy Trubin to level the tie at 3-3 on aggregate.
Few minutes after Ilenikhena’s goal, Benfica scored again as Orkun Kökcü netted with a right-footed strike which hit the woodwork on its way in to lead 4-3 on aggregate.
Benfica nearly put the game beyond doubt in stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty after a coming together in the box. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned, allowing Monaco a final push for an equalizer. Despite their late pressure, the Ligue 1 side could not break through, and Benfica held on to secure their spot in the next round.
For Monaco, it was a heartbreaking exit, but Ilenikhena’s goal was a bright spot for Nigerian football fans, as the young forward continues to show promise on the big stage, scoring two goals in six Champions League appearances this season.
© Bold Sports Media. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
