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Regular-article-logo Sunday, 12 May 2024

Europa League semi-final: Sevilla set up Manchester United clash

Shakhtar, the Ukrainian champions, will take on Inter Milan in Duesseldorf on Monday

Agencies Gelsenkirchen Published 13.08.20, 02:29 AM
Lucas Ocampos, bottom left, celebrates with his teammate after scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinal in Duisburg, Germany, on Tuesday.

Lucas Ocampos, bottom left, celebrates with his teammate after scoring his side's opening goal during the Europa League quarterfinal in Duisburg, Germany, on Tuesday. AP

Sevilla and Shakhtar Donetsk booked Europa League semi-final berths with victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and FC Basel, respectively, on Tuesday.

Shakhtar, the Ukrainian champions, will take on Inter Milan in Duesseldorf on Monday after goals from Brazilians Junior Moraes, Taison, Alan Patrick and Dodo gave them a 4-1 win over the Swiss side in a one-sided last-eight clash in Gelsenkirchen.

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Sevilla will take on Manchester United in Sunday’s semi-final at Cologne, which will also host the final on August 21.

Moraes headed the Ukrainian side into a second-minute lead after a howler by Basel’s Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Nikolic, who was beaten to the ball by the striker after rushing off his line to meet a Marlos corner.

Nikolic made amends with several good saves in the first half but was powerless in the 22nd minute when Taison capped a lightning Shakhtar break with a deflected shot after good work by Marlos and a clever dummy by Patrick.

Marcos Antonio rattled the woodwork with a long-range effort in the 40th minute before Shakhtar took their foot off the pedal in the second half, content with keeping possession as their rivals chased shadows.

It may have been a different story at Duisburg had Raul Jimenez of Wolves scored from the spot in the 13th minute, but Yassine Bounou made the save and Lucas Ocampos glanced in the only goal two minutes from time.

Sevilla had looked off-colour in the early stages of the game but after the penalty save, they took control of the game.

The five-time Europa League champions had seemingly endless set pieces around the Wolves penalty area and finally broke through when Ocampos headed in Ever Banega’s cross following a corner in the 88th minute.

Wolves had the longest Europa League campaign of any team left in the competition, having started more than a year ago in the first qualifying round with a win over Northern Irish club Crusaders on July 25, 2019.

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