News Archive

Europa League, semi finals, second leg

Sevilla are in to their third final in a row, and their fifth in eleven years, after they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 on Thursday evening! An early strike from Gameiro built on the 2-2 result from the first leg, and although Eduardo levelled the scores shortly before the break, goals after the restart by Gameiro and Mariano took the Andalusians through. Villarreal miss out though after they were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool, and the Premier League side will be Sevilla’s opponents in Basel. A one goal advantage from a week ago was quickly cancelled out by a Bruno own goal, and Sturridge and Lallana added two more after the interval to deprive the East coast team of a European final for the fourth time of asking. (05.05.16)

Sevilla 3 - Shakhtar Donetsk 1

Sevilla are in to their third final in a row, and their fifth in eleven years, after they beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 on Thursday evening! The 2-2 result from the first leg meant that the Ukrainian side really had to win in the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium, and with less than ten minutes on the clock Gameiro made their task even harder when he won the ball off Malyshev and ran on to fire a shot under the legs of Pyatov. With half time approaching though Eduardo levelled the scores after Marlos put him through, and Marlos and Kovalenko tested David Soria either side of the break. However just two minutes in to the second half Gameiro got his second of the night after Krychowiak set him up, and the French striker went close with an overhead kick before Mariano picked up a pass from Vitolo and curled a long shot past the keeper. Eduardo did head wide later on, but it was an impossible task for the visitors, and Sevilla go on to face Liverpool in Basel, looking for their fifth European title.

Liverpool 3 - Villarreal 0

Villarreal miss out on the Europa League final after they were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool, and the Premier League side will be Sevilla’s opponents in Basel. A one goal advantage from a week ago was quickly cancelled out when Bruno deflected Firmino’s cross in to his own net under pressure from Sturridge. Up to that point the visitors had had the better chances, Mario bringing a good save out of Mignolet and Dos Santos shooting wide, but from then on Jurgen Klopp’s side dominated, Lallana and Coutinho going close before the break, and Milner and Strurridge testing Areola after the restart. With just over an hour gone though Sturridge picked up a pass from Firmino to score his team’s second, Areola getting a touch to his shot only to see the ball hit the post and roll across the line, and a few minutes later the visitors were left with ten men when Víctor Ruíz picked up a second booking for a foul on Lallana. With ten minutes to go Lallana himself made it three after Sturridge scuffed his shot following more good work by Firmino, and only some good saves by Areola prevented Can, Sturridge, Allen and Lallana from adding to the scoreline later on. It was another disappointment for Marcelino’s side, and for the fourth time of asking in European competitions they lost out at the semi-final stage.