Connect with us

Sports

Liverpool to battle Sevilla in Europa Cup final 

Published

on

Liverpool and Sevilla will contest the Europa League final, after both won on home soil.
Sevilla have won the competition for the past two seasons, and were in a strong position after drawing 2-2 with Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.
The Reds, however, were in a more precarious situation having lost 1-0 at Villarreal last week.
Jürgen Klopp’s side got off to a dream start when Roberto Firmino’s cross ricocheted off Bruno and into the back of his own net after just seven minutes.
On-loan Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola, was in goal for the visitors, but the 23-year-old looked nervous and was perhaps fortunate to hear the whistle blow when he dropped the ball under pressure from Firmino.
With just over an hour played, Daniel Sturridge doubled Liverpool’s advantage, guiding Firmino’s ball home with the help of the post.
Villarreal needed just one goal to progress, but their task was made that much harder when Victor Ruiz was shown a second yellow card for standing on Adam Lallana’s foot.
Denis Suarez had a penalty appeal waved-away with just 10 minutes to play, with the referee deciding that Alberto Moreno’s challenge was fair.
Just minutes later, Lallana put the game and the tie to bed at the other end.
That man Firmino was the architect once again, driving at the full-back before cutting it back for Sturridge.
The England striker failed to connect properly, but Lallana was there to flick the ball home from close range.
In Spain, Shakhtar Donetsk knew they had to win or score at least two away goals to progress to the final.
The task looked difficult when Kevin Gameiro opened the scoring in under 10 minutes, but former Arsenal striker Eduardo hit back just before half-time.
However, just after the break, Gameiro struck again with a fine left-footed finish, before Mariano made it three just before the hour.
Unai Emery’s side therefore advance to the final once again, with Liverpool standing between Sevilla and a famous three-peat.
RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now