UEFA Europa League: Benfica 2 Tottenham 2 (5-3 agg)

Tottenham’s second-leg fightback was in vain as Benfica progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League with a 2-2 draw in Lisbon.

The hosts looked on course for a comfortable 1-0 win at Estadio da Luz thanks to Ezequiel Garay’s thunderous first-half header after winning the first leg 3-1 at White Hart Lane..

Yet, there was a dramatic ending as Nacer Chadli’s quickfire double threatened a late Tottenham comeback, but Lima’s last-gasp penalty denied the London club victory on the night as Benfica remain on course for a second consecutive Europa League final after losing last year’s version 2-1 to Chelsea.

Jorge Jesus’ Primeira Liga leaders can now look forward to the quarter-finals after a 5-3 aggregate victory, while Tottenham’s gutsy exit may alleviate some of the pressure on head coach Tim Sherwood – who accused Jesus of lacking class following a heated first leg.

The hosts moved into a first-half lead when Garay powered his header past veteran goalkeeper Brad Friedel, and the scores remained the same until half-time.

It looked as though that is how the game would stay, but Chadli levelled the tie with a curling effort on 78 minutes, before adding a second goal shortly after.

Ultimately, however, it would prove too little too late and Lima had the final say from the spot.

Benfica missed a great opportunity to extend their aggregate lead as early as the ninth minute, when Garay nodded the ball into the path of centre-back partner Luisao but he could only head over the crossbar from eight yards out when unmarked.

That miss could have been punished by Roberto Soldado six minutes later, when the Spanish striker controlled the ball at the back post before his half-volley went down into the turf and wide of the target.

It was an open contest and Tottenham spurned another chance to take the lead after 26 minutes, with Chadli heading Gylfi Sigurdsson’s corner wide.

Benfica took advantage of the visitors’ wasteful finishing in the 34th minute, as Eduardo Salvio ghosted past stand-in captain Aaron Lennon on the right before clipping an inviting cross into the box which Garay finished with a thumping header.

The visitors looked comfortable in possession for the remainder of the opening period, and continued that trend in the second half.

Luisao could have had his third goal of the tie in the 58th minute when he leapt highest to head Miralem Sulejmani’s corner wide.

With tie seemingly petering out to a Benfica win, Tottenham turned the game on its head after 78 minutes, as Chadli cut in from the right flank and rifled a right-shot into the far corner.

Just a minute later Chadli scored his second when he span on the spot and hooked his shot in the top right-hand corner.

There was further drama in the closing stages when Suljmani felled substitute Harry Kane in the area, but the referee did not award the penalty.

Benfica were then grateful to goalkeeper Jan Oblak deep into injury time, as first he kept out Sigurdsson’s header with a fine point-blank save, before holding Kane’s tame header.

The hosts then settled the game as Lima equalised from the spot, after Sandro had fouled the midfielder in the area.