Sevilla pull off thrilling Juve comeback to face Roma in UEL final | OneFootball

Following the Champions League action, this year’s Europa League finalists were confirmed on Thursday after two thrilling semi-final second legs.

Here is what went down.

Sevilla edge Juve after ET in front of raucous fans

Scorer: Suso 74′, Lamela 96′; Vlahović 65′

Serial competition winners Sevilla had to dig deep to beat Juventus in extra time inside a rocking Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

The hosts took control of the match from kick-off and called Wojciech Szczęsny into action a handful of times as Ivan Rakitić looked reborn and Lucas Ocampos pulled the strings.

Meanwhile, Juventus’ first-leg hero Federico Gatti had a header saved by Yassine Bounou and Moise Kean dragged an effort wide before Adrien Rabiot’s goal was correctly ruled out.

However, the hosts were more frustrated after 45 minutes after VAR dismissed two potential penalties, including a handball.

Unfortunately for Massimiliano Allegri, youngster Nicolò Fagioli was stretchered off in tears as the sides remained deadlocked heading into the break.

Coming out into the second half, the entertainment continued in a feisty atmosphere as challenges flew and the action was end-to-end. The goals eventually arrived, thanks to two substitutes.

Dušan Vlahović came off the bench and, within 58 seconds, chipped home after a mistake from Sevilla’s defence. But it wouldn’t last long as Suso pulled off a stunning effort from range to draw level.

And despite a flurry of late strikes, which included Szczęsny making a potential save of the season on Youssef En-Nesyri in the dying seconds, the match entered extra-time.

The theme of stellar substitutes then continued as Bryan Gil’s cross found the head of Erik Lamela, who thumped the ball home for 2-1 immediately after the restart.

Federico Chiesa wasted two opportunities to level it up late and Juventus were even handed a lifeline as Marcos Acuña was sent off for time-wasting.

But in the end, the hosts held on for an impressive and have a chance to win their seventh Europa League title.

Leverkusen fall short as Roma through

Meanwhile, over in Germany, the master got the better of the apprentice as Roma reached the final over Bayer Leverkusen.

The visitors led 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg and appeared happy defending their slim lead, not attacking whatsoever.

The hosts, meanwhile, tried everything they could to turn the tie around.

Florian Wirtz and Moussa Diaby were lively and Frenchman came closest to opening the scoring but his effort hit the post after a counter-attacking run down the wing.

Leverkusen dominated the match as a result and were never really out of it. Yet despite 23 shots compared to one for Roma, nothing was too worrying for goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

The goalless draw, therefore, allowed Jose Mourinho’s side to scrape past Xabi Alonso’s even with eight added minutes.

It’s the second final in a row for the reigning Europa Conference League winners, and the Portuguese boss has won all five of the European finals he’s managed.