AFP, LISBON: In-form striker Jonas headed a dramatic injury-time winner for Benfica as the Portuguese champions beat 10-man Zenit St Petersburg 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.
Zenit midfielder Axel Witsel twice went close for the visitors in the second half, while Benfica’s Nico Gaitan was denied by a fine stop from Yuri Lodygin before Jonas nodded in late on after Domenico Criscito was sent off for the visitors.
Zenit coach Andre Villas-Boas selected three former Benfica players — Witsel, Ezequiel Garay and Javi Garcia — as the Russian champions played their first competitive match since December 9.
Meanwhile, Benfica boss Rui Vitoria stuck with the same side that lost 2-1 to bitter rivals Porto on Friday, a defeat that snapped the hosts’ 11-game winning streak.
Jonas, who has scored 23 goals in 22 league games for Benfica this season, went close midway through the first half as his long-range drive flicked Nicolas Lombaerts and skipped just wide of Lodygin’s far post.
Hulk then hammered a free-kick wide at the other end after Jardel joined Andre Almeida in the referee’s book, with both Benfica defenders ruled out of the return leg on March 9 due to suspension.
Julio Cesar palmed away a stinging Witsel strike shortly after half-time, with the Belgium international then heading straight at the Benfica goalkeeper from the resulting throw-in.
Zenit midfielder Garcia will also miss next month’s second leg in Russia after he too was booked, and the visitors were indebted to Lodygin on 69 minutes as he produced an excellent save to deny Gaitan from close range.
Another report adds: Andre Villas-Boas has no intention of returning to the Premier League next season when his contract with Zenit comes to an end.
Villas-Boas' name was reportedly in the frame for the Real Madrid job before Rafael Benitez was appointed, while he is regularly linked with vacant roles in the Premier League.
However, the 38-year-old is keen to experience different competitions rather than return to England, having previously experienced brief spells in charge of Chelsea and Tottenham.
"No, I think my time has been done there. It didn't go as well as I expected, apart from the first year at Tottenham, so I will look forward to trying other leagues," he told BT Sport after Zenit's 1-0 defeat to Benfica in the Champions League last-16 first leg.
''I don't know [where I might go], hopefully something good."