Benfica, Sevilla reach Europa League final

Teams to battle it out on May 14 after beating Juventus, Valencia respectively.

PARIS: Benfica and Sevilla defeated Juventus and Valencia in their respective semi-finals to reach the Europa League final on Thursday.

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 semi-final 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.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte insisted his side had been the more positive.

“They had two shots on goal over the two legs and now they’re into the final,” he said. “In the end, the least deserving team reached the final.”

“We gave it everything we could but it wasn’t enough. Now we have to turn our attention to winning the title, which we can do on Monday against Atalanta.”

‘It was the happiest moment of my life’

Cameroon international Stephane Mbia was overjoyed as he 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.”

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.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2014.

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