
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 aChampions League title showdown, Europe's second-tier tournament followed asimilar script.Benfica, runners-up to Chelsea in last year's final, weathered a Juventus onslaught inTurin 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 secondbookable offence with 23 minutes to play.The Portuguese side restricted the Italians to only a handful of seriousopportunities as Juventus failed to score at home for the first time in 25 matchesthis season.The loss also denied Juventus, who are heading for the Serie A title this season, theopportunity to play the May 14 final on their home ground.Cameroon international Stephane Mbia headed home in the fifth minute ofstoppage time to take Sevilla into the final on away goals despite losing 3-1 on thenight 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 haveValencia 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 thelast attack of the game."I think it is the happiest moment of my life," said Mbia, who also scored in the firstleg. "It is unbelievable. I don't have the words to describe it."Inspired by overcoming a 3-0 first leg defeat to beat Basel 5-0 at home in the returnin the quarter-finals, Valencia went ahead on 14 minutes when Feghouli cut insideonto 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 saveby Beto. However, the Portuguese goalkeeper was unfortunate moments later when the ballrebounded in off his back after he had made a fine save to turn Jonas Goncalves'header onto the bar.The hosts looked to have sealed their place in the final 21 minutes from time whenMathieu thrashed home after the ball fell perfectly for the French defender fromFede's corner.However, Mbia's dramatic intervention means it will instead be two-time winnersSevilla who will face Benfica in the final in Turin on May 14. Source: AFP
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