Marseille 1-0 Benfica (4-2 on pens) – l’OM down Eagles on penalties to secure semi-final spot in UEFA Europa League

Marseille defeated Benfica 4-2 on penalties, after the sides were deadlocked 2-2 on aggregate, and go on to face Atalanta in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League

The hosts dominated the match, which they went into with a 2-1 deficit, but for much of the game it appeared they might be held out by the stout Benfica defence and goalkeeping of Anatolii Trubin.

This was until substitute Faris Moumbagna headed home a cross from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 10 minutes from time.

After a pulsating second 45 minutes, extra time was a more measured affair with both sides out on their feet by the end of the 120 minutes.

Angel Di Maria missed the opening spot kick shooting against the right post then, after five perfect kicks, Antonio Silva saw his shot saved by Pau Lopez diving to his right and Luis Henrique scored to send l’OM into the last four.

Benfica’s defence gave them a chance to go all the way in the tournament and lift the traditional Uefa Cup trophy for the first time.

In successive rounds they have kept clean sheets at Toulouse and Rangers and were 10 minutes from doing so against Marseille.

However, setting his team up to play so negatively saw Marseille encamped in the Portuguese side’s territory in the second half and a goal was finally conceded.

In the first leg they showed they had the more quality in the final third, which they also showed glimpses of on the break at the Velodrome, but clearly the emphasis was on playing for a goalless draw which coach Roger Schmidt is sure to field a glut of questions on over the next few days.

In a team with a lot of young talent, he and Aubameyang are the elder statesmen in the side. And both were key figures as they kept their team-mates from dropping their intensity when it appeared a goal might not come around. Veretout gets the nod for game-high five key passes, even if Aubameyang ultimately set up the equaliser with a fantastic cross.

Marseille: Lopez 7; Mbemba 6, Gigot 7, Balerdi 7; Ndiaye 5, Ounahi 6, Kondogbia 6, Veretout 8, Soglo 7; Harit 6; Aubameyang 7.

Subs: Murillo 6, Henrique 6, Moumbagna 7, Daou 6, Lafont 6.

Benfica: Trubin 7; Bah 7, Silva 7, Otamendi 7, Aursnes 6; Florentino 6, Neves 7; Di Maria 6, Rafa 6, Neres 7; Tengstedt 6.

Subs: Mario 7, Kokcu 6, Cabral 6.

58′ DI MARIA WITH A GREAT CHANCE! The ball breaks for him in the area eight yards from goal but his effort is blocked by Gigot.

58′ TWO CHANCES IN A MINUTE… Aursnes is played through on goal by Neres and clips the ball over Lopez but into the side-netting.

68′ AUBAMEYANG TRIES AN AUDACIOUS HALF-VOLLEY! The corner comes to him at the back post and it fizzes through the players in the box but wide of the far post.

70′ GREAT SAVE FROM TRUBIN! Veretout pulls back to Kodogbia who strikes first time but he is denied by the keeper at full stretch low to his left.

74′ FINE DOUBLE STOP FROM LOPEZ! He dives to his left to block an effort from Rafa Silva and then blocks with his legs as Di Maria tries to sneak an effort inside the near post.

79′ GOAL FOR MARSEILLE! At last the breakthrough comes. Substitute Moumbagna tucks the ball beyond Trubin meeting Aubameyang’s fine cross with a low header which squeezes between the legs of the Ukrainian stopper.

102′ CHEEKY EFFORT FROM AUBAMEYANG! He took down a ball over the top and with Trubin out of his goal he lobs over the keeper and not far away from the upright.

108′ CABRAL IS DENIED BY LOPEZ! He first tried to square and his cross was blocked by the prone Daou, but then he shot with his left foot from close range but the Marseille keeper parried away.

PENALTY 1 (BENFICA): DI MARIA HITS THE POST! He shoots against Lopez’s left-hand post.

PENALTY 4 (BENFICA): LOPEZ SAVES ANTONIO SILVA’S KICK! The centre back shot to the keeper’s right but was denied by a fine diving stop.

PENALTY 4 (MARSEILLE):HENRIQUE SHOOTS PAST TRUBIN…MARSEILLE WIN! A fine kick nestling in the inside netting to the keeper’s right giving Trubin no chance.

• 3 – The number of times Marseille have reached the final of this tournament. They will hope to make it four – and win it for the first time.