Chelsea Survive Prague Comeback To Seal Last Four Ticket

19th April 2019

Blues edge another European football seven-goal thriller 4-3 to make last four in 5-3 victory on aggregate

Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Pedro celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final second leg football match between Chelsea and Slavia Prague at Stamford Bridge stadium in London on April 18, 2019. PHOTO/AFP
Chelsea's Spanish midfielder Pedro celebrates scoring the team's fourth goal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter-Final second leg football match between Chelsea and Slavia Prague at Stamford Bridge stadium in London on April 18, 2019. PHOTO/AFP
SUMMARY
  • Leading 1-0 from last week's first leg in the Czech capital, Chelsea appeared to be cruising towards the last four after an early goal blitz at Stamford Bridge
  • The 2013 Europa League champions will meet Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four after the Germans eliminated Benfica on away goals
  • Toni Lato and Dani Parejo grabbed the goals in a 2-0 second-leg victory for Valencia coach Marcelino against his former club

PARIS, France- Pedro Rodriguez starred as Chelsea withstood a spirited Slavia Prague fightback in a wild 4-3 victory to qualify for the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday night, while Arsenal knocked out Napoli after an assured display in Italy.

Leading 1-0 from last week's first leg in the Czech capital, Chelsea appeared to be cruising towards the last four after an early goal blitz at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro struck the opener on five minutes before an unfortunate Simon Deli turned into his own net and Olivier Giroud added a third with barely quarter of an hour gone in London.

Tomas Soucek pulled one back for Slavia on 26 minutes, but Spain forward Pedro replied immediately to restore the Blues' three-goal lead.

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Maurizio Sarri's side were made to sweat though as two sublime, quick-fire goals by Petr Sevcik just after half-time gave Slavia hope of an incredible comeback with 35 minutes still to play.

Chelsea eventually saw off the threat to progress 5-3 on aggregate despite an unconvincing second-half display.

"We have been efficient up front and solid at the back but we dropped our intensity after the break," Giroud, who scored his competition-leading 10th goal, told BT Sport.

"We started very badly in the second half but I'm really, really happy because we played well in the first 45 minutes and we are in a European semi-final which is very important to us," added Chelsea boss Sarri.

Turned home

The 2013 Europa League champions will meet Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four after the Germans eliminated Benfica on away goals.

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Eintracht lost 4-2 in Portugal a week ago, but goals by Filip Kostic and former Bayern Munich midfielder Sebastian Rode sent the German Cup holders through at the Commerzbank Arena.

Kostic turned home a rebound on 37 minutes after Mijat Gacinovic's curling attempt cannoned back off the upright.

Rode, on loan from Borussia Dortmund, hit the decisive goal on 67 minutes as he picked out the bottom corner from the edge of the area. 

Valencia eased through with a 5-1 aggregate win over Villarreal in an all-Spanish affair.

Toni Lato and Dani Parejo grabbed the goals in a 2-0 second-leg victory for Valencia coach Marcelino against his former club.

The semi-finals will be played over May 2 and 9, with this year's final in Baku on May 29.

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Europa League second leg quarterfinal results on Thursday:

At London

Chelsea (ENG) 4 (Pedro 5, 27, Deli 10-og, Giroud 17) Slavia Prague (CZE) 3 (Soucek 26, Sevcik 51, 55)

Chelsea win 5-3 on aggregate

At Frankfurt, Germany

Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 2 (Kostic 37, Rode 67) Benfica (POR) 0

4-4 on aggregate; Eintracht win on away goals

At Naples, Italy

Napoli (ITA) 0 Arsenal (ENG) 1 (Lacazette 36)

Arsenal win 3-0 on aggregate

At Valencia, Spain

Valencia (ESP) 2 (Lato 13, Parejo 54) Villarreal (ESP) 0

Valencia win 5-1 on aggregate

Semi-finals to be played on May 2 and 9

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