European Challenge Cup: Benetton 27-23 Cardiff - Marcus Watson try seals historic win for Italian side

Mason Grady scored Cardiff's second try against Benetton

Benetton became the first Italian side to reach a European semi-final with a gripping Challenge Cup win against Cardiff in a rain-soaked Treviso.

Marcus Watson scored the crucial try after previous scores from Rhyno Smith and Michele Lamaro.

Cardiff responded with tries from Thomas Young and Mason Grady, and 13 points from Rhys Priestland's boot.

Benetton's reward for the historic win is a semi-final trip to play Toulon in the final weekend of April.

Scarlets will host Glasgow or Lions in the other final-four match, with the final being held in Dublin in May.

Only a point separated the two teams in the United Rugby Championship league table going into this game, to demonstrate how evenly matched these sides were.

Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans was missing after picking up an injury in the 28-27 win over Sale.

Priestland moved from full-back with Ben Thomas taking over the number 15 jersey, while flanker Young started with captain Josh Turnbull moving to the second row.

Cardiff were returning to the scene of one of the most damning defeats in the Welsh side's history, suffering a 69-21 loss and conceding 10 tries on the final weekend of the 2021-22 season.

The Italian side had also beaten Connacht 41-19 in the previous round.

An early penalty turnover from Turnbull allowed Priestland to open the scoring with a second-minute kick, before a Young breakdown steal repelled a home attack.

Some loose kicking from Cardiff half-backs Priestland and Tomos Williams invited pressure on the visitors defence, with Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello proving an early threat.

Benetton's attacking prowess troubled Cardiff's discipline which in turn allowed Umaga to slot two penalties.

The onslaught continued and after powerful breaks from back-row duo Henry Stowers and Sebastian Negri, Cardiff lock Teddy Williams was shown a yellow card for a professional foul.

Benetton wing Edoardo Padovani failed to gather the ball with the Cardiff line gaping, before full-back Smith opened the try scoring with a well-worked move with Umaga converting.

Cardiff attempted to gain a foothold but the well-organised Benetton defence initially absorbed the pressure.

It took a clever kick from Tomos Williams to cause havoc in the Italian defence and although Owen Lane did not gather possession, the supporting Young pounced to score.

Priestland converted from the touchline to reduce the half-time deficit to three points and then levelled the scores early in the second half with a penalty.

Wing Josh Adams suffered a series of knocks but battled on manfully and proved outstanding under the high ball, with Cardiff also continually using the cross-field kicking tactic.

Wales centre Grady showed his class with an outstanding outside break to dive over in the left-hand corner for a superb individual effort, which Priestland again effortlessly converted.

Benetton bounced back with Italy captain Lamaro powering over and Umaga converting to level the scores, only for Priestland to restore the Cardiff advantage with his third penalty.

Cardiff hooker Kristian Dacey was among the second-half replacements as he played his 200th game for his side.

A late illegal Tomos Williams charge on Smyth provided the platform for Benetton to score a third try for wing Watson who juggled the ball before sliding over.

The conversion from replacement Tomos Albornoz took Benetton to a four-point advantage which the hosts were not to relinquish despite constant Cardiff pressure in the final 10 minutes.

Benetton flanker Michele Lamaro: "The boys were great, as were Cardiff. We might have expected better weather but the boys gave everything and you could see that in the last actions.

"Our ground is our castle and that's the way we step onto the field every time and we want to show our crowd we want to do something special for them and we did it.

"These 80 minutes are the games you train for all season."

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young: "I am disappointed with the loss but not with the effort and the way we played.

"We were under lots of pressure in the first 20 minutes but found a way to stay in the game.

"We got ourselves back into the game with some good play and got our noses in front but it was always going to be a tough ask.

"It was a game of fine margins and we had a couple of chances in the last few minutes but it just got away from us."

Benetton: Rhyno Smith; Edoardo Padovani, Nacho Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Marcus Watson; Jacob Umaga, Dewaldt Duvenage (capt); Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Giacomo Nicotera, Tiziano Pasquali, Niccolò Cannone, Federico Ruzza, Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro, Henry Stowers.

Replacements: Siua Maile, Thomas Gallo, Filippo Alongi, Riccardo Favretto, Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone, Alessandro Garbisi, Tomas Albornoz.

Cardiff: Ben Thomas; Owen Lane, Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Josh Adams; Rhys Priestland, Tomos Williams; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti, Josh Turnbull (capt), Teddy Williams, James Botham, Thomas Young, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Rhys Carré, Will Davies-King, Seb Davies, Lopeti Timani, James Ratti, Lloyd Williams, Jason Harries.

Referee: Luke Pearce (England)

Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe & Jack Makepeace (England)

TMO: Stuart Terheege (England)