Chelsea will face Barcelona after reaching their sixth Champions League semi-final in nine years with victory against Benfica at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard’s first-half penalty set the platform for Chelsea’s successful defence of the 1-0 lead they established after the first leg in Lisbon’s Stadium of Light.
And even though Chelsea had to survive nervous moments in the last five minutes after Javi Garcia’s header put Benfica one goal away from winning the tie, a spectacular strike from substitute Raul Meireles in the dying seconds cut short the comeback.
Chelsea’s win sets up a repeat of the controversial 2009 semi-final when only Andres Iniesta’s strike deep into stoppage time at Stamford Bridge rescued Barcelona and prevented an all-Premier League meeting with Manchester United in Rome.
Benfica created chances throughout but lacked the cutting edge to punish Chelsea – and their task was made even more difficult by the first half dismissal of Captain Maxi Pereira after he received a second yellow card for a crude challenge on Jon Obi Mikel.
Chelsea’s performance was hardly of the calibre to strike fear into the hearts of holders and tournament favourites, Barcelona.
But for caretaker Manager, Roberto di Matteo, and his players, this was simply a case of mission accomplished.
They may not have touched the heights but their rejuvenation under Di Matteo continues as they now contemplate a place in the last four of the Champions League alongside an FA Cup semi-final with Tottenham at Wembley.
It is a brutal reality, however, that they will have to display infinitely greater quality than this to trouble Pep Guardiola’s collection of Catalan superstars as they battle for a place in next month’s final in Munich.
Benfica opened with an ambition to be expected as they chased that deficit from the first game in Lisbon, with the gifted Pablo Aimar a prominent figure.
In the other quarter final match, Real Madrid confirmed a Champions League semi-final with Bayern Munich despite Apoel’s defiant performance.
The hosts, with a 3-0 first-leg advantage, took the lead on the night through Cristiano Ronaldo’s close-range finish before Kaka curled in a second.
Apoel’s Gustavo Manduca finished a fine attacking move before Ronaldo scored a free-kick to make it 3-1.
Jose Callejon added a fourth on the break and, after Esteban Solari’s penalty, Angel di Maria chipped in.
Real boss, Jose Mourinho, would have expected a more comfortable evening but will be satisfied to see his team in the last four for just the second time since 2003.
Real are six points clear at the top of the La Liga with eight games to go and, as the Portuguese looks to win this competition with a third different club, could still meet domestic rivals and defending champions, Barcelona, in the final.
Before that, Real must see off Bayern, whom they meet in this competition for a 10th time.