Late Luiz goal lifts Chelsea, Fenerbahce edges Benfica
Source: Agencies |
April 27, 2013, Saturday
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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.
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