Benfica players celebrate their famous draw in Turin. Source: GIUSEPPE CACACE / AFP
TEN-MAN Benfica resisted a Juventus onslaught to hang on for a 0-0 draw in Turin and qualify for their second successive Europa League final after a 2-1 aggregate win.
They will face Spanish side Sevilla in the decider after they scored a late away goal at fellow La Liga side Valencia to go through on the away goals rule.
With a home final on the horizon Juventus had made winning the Europa League a priority after crashing out of the Champions League earlier this season.
Another season of disappointment on the European stage for Juventus. Source: AFP
But despite a dominant display - and against 10 men when midfielder Enzo Perez saw red for the visitors with 20 minutes remaining - Juve ultimately failed to find the goal that would have secured their place in the May 14 final.
“We’re a squad that tries to defend to perfection, and we more than deserved to advance,” Benfica defender Guilherme Siqueira said.
It’s the third time Benfica has reached the final, having been runner-up in 1983 and last year, when the Portuguese side was beaten by Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Stephane Mbia headed home in the fifth minute of stoppage time to take Sevilla into the final despite losing 3-1 on the night.
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 have Valencia on route to the final, but Mbia powered home Federico Fazio’s flick-on from a long throw to deny Los Che with the last attack of the game.
“I think it is the happiest moment of my life,” said Mbia, who is on-loan at the Andalusian club from Queens Park Rangers.
“It is unbelievable. I don’t have the words to describe it.”
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