EUROPA LEAGUE:Sevilla, Benfica to meet in Europa final

01 May 2014 23:10:25
Benfica and Sevilla reached
the Europa League final on
Thursday, further cementing
an Iberian grip on the
continent's game.
In a week which had already seen Real
Madrid and Atletico Madrid set up a
Champions League title showdown, Europe's
second-tier tournament followed a similar
script.
Benfica, runners-up to Chelsea in last year's
final, weathered a Juventus onslaught in
Turin to hold out for a 0-0 draw and a 2-1
semifinal aggregate win.
They ensured the stalemate despite having
Enzo Perez sent off for a second bookable
offence with 23 minutes to play.
The Portuguese side restricted the Italians to
only a handful of serious opportunities as
Juventus failed to score at home for the first
time in 25 matches this season.
The loss also denied Juventus, who are
heading for the Serie A title this season, the
opportunity to play the May 14 final on their
home ground.
Euroleague: Valencia v Sevilla
Duration: 5 min, 0 sec
Highlights of the Uefa Europa League match
between Valencia and Sevilla from Mestalla
Stadium Valencia, Spain
Cameroon international Stephane Mbia
headed home in the fifth minute of stoppage
time to take Sevilla into the final on away
goals despite losing 3-1 on the night away
to Valencia.
An early strike from Sofiane Feghouli and
Beto's own goal had wiped out Sevilla's 2-0
first leg advantage inside 25 minutes.
Jeremy Mathieu's goal midway through the
second half then seemed to have Valencia on
route to the final, but Mbia, on-loan from
Queens Park Rangers, powered home
Federico Fazio's flick-on from a long throw
to deny Los Che with the last attack of the
game.
"I think it is the happiest moment of my life,"
said Mbia, who also scored in the first leg.
"It is unbelievable. I don't have the words to
describe it."
Inspired by overcoming a 3-0 first leg defeat
to beat Basle 5-0 at home in the return in the
quarterfinals, Valencia went ahead on 14
minutes when Feghouli cut inside onto his
left foot and his shot deflected off Fazio and
flew into the roof of the net.
The Algerian international came close again
when he was denied by a fine low save by
Beto.
However, the Portuguese goalkeeper was
unfortunate moments later when the ball
rebounded in off his back after he had made
a fine save to turn Jonas Goncalves's header
onto the bar.
The hosts looked to have sealed their place
in the final 21 minutes from time when
Mathieu thrashed home after the ball fell
perfectly for the French defender from Fede's
corner.
However, Mbia's dramatic intervention
means it will instead be two-time winners
Sevilla who will face Benfica in the final in
Turin on May 14.