Milan survive Arsenal charge,enter quarterfinals

Both goalkeepers made crucial second-half stops to keep the score 3-0,and Milan tightened up to progress 4-3 over two matches and narrowly avoid another embarrassing turnaround in the Champions League.

History of choking

Milan was on the receiving end of the biggest comeback in Champions League history when it surrendered a 4-1 advantage to Deportivo La Coruna by losing the second leg of a 2004 quarterfinal 4-0. It also suffered the biggest turnaround in a Champions League final by giving up a 3-0 halftime lead over Liverpool. Liverpool fought back to 3-3 and won the 2005 title in a shootout. Benfica also advanced Tuesday,beating Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 to overhaul a 3-2 first-leg deficit and go through 4-3 on aggregate. Maxi Pereira put Benfica ahead on away goals in first-half injury time and Nelson Oliveira made the game safe in second-half injury time.

Koscielny gave Arsenal hope in the seventh minute,heading in totally unmarked from a corner kick. Milan’s shaky defense allowed Rosicky a similar amount of space 19 minutes later,failing to clear the ball to allow the Czech Republic international to pass it into the net from just inside the area.

Benfica advance

Portuguese side Benfica advanced to the last eight for the first time in six years as Russian champion Zenit tried to cling to its slim advantage and made little impression at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light. Pereira drove in from Axel Witsel’s back-heeled pass and substitute Oliveira rounded off a counterattack.