Late Luiz goal lifts Chelsea, Fenerbahce edges Benfica
Source: Agencies |
April 27, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BRAZILIAN David Luiz scored deep into stoppage time to keep Chelsea on track for a second successive European final after a 2-1 victory at Basel in their Europa League semifinal, first leg on Thursday.
Fenerbahce, which wasted a first-half spot-kick, also gained an edge by beating Portuguese club Benfica 1-0 in Istanbul with a 72nd-minute header from Egemen Korkmaz.
Chelsea, Champions League winner for the first time in 2012, made a tame defense of its continental trophy earlier in the season, exiting in the group stage, but has found the Europa League more to its liking.
The English Premier League side appeared to have been denied victory by Basel, cheered on by Swiss tennis great Roger Federer in his hometown, when Fabian Schaer struck an 87th-minute penalty past Petr Cech to cancel out Victor Moses's 12th-minute header. But four minutes into stoppage time Luiz struck a low freekick past goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
"A draw 1-1 is a good result but 2-1 is better, and me and the team are so happy with this," Luiz said.
Both semifinals, while lacking the spectacular fireworks that lit up the Champions League this week when Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund each struck four goals past Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, were entertaining affairs.
Fenerbahce's Brazilian midfielder Cristian drilled a penalty against the left hand upright on the stroke of halftime after Ola John, who was booked and will miss the return leg, clipped the legs of Gokhan Gonul.
Former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt fired against the post after the break, as did Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan before Korkmaz headed in from a corner for the game's only goal.
Fenerbahce, which wasted a first-half spot-kick, also gained an edge by beating Portuguese club Benfica 1-0 in Istanbul with a 72nd-minute header from Egemen Korkmaz.
Chelsea, Champions League winner for the first time in 2012, made a tame defense of its continental trophy earlier in the season, exiting in the group stage, but has found the Europa League more to its liking.
The English Premier League side appeared to have been denied victory by Basel, cheered on by Swiss tennis great Roger Federer in his hometown, when Fabian Schaer struck an 87th-minute penalty past Petr Cech to cancel out Victor Moses's 12th-minute header. But four minutes into stoppage time Luiz struck a low freekick past goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
"A draw 1-1 is a good result but 2-1 is better, and me and the team are so happy with this," Luiz said.
Both semifinals, while lacking the spectacular fireworks that lit up the Champions League this week when Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund each struck four goals past Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively, were entertaining affairs.
Fenerbahce's Brazilian midfielder Cristian drilled a penalty against the left hand upright on the stroke of halftime after Ola John, who was booked and will miss the return leg, clipped the legs of Gokhan Gonul.
Former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt fired against the post after the break, as did Benfica's Nicolas Gaitan before Korkmaz headed in from a corner for the game's only goal.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
