Chelsea enter final

London, May 3: Chelsea reached the Europa League final for the first time in their history after surviving a first-half scare to defeat Swiss champions FC Basel 3-1 in the second leg of their semifinal on Thursday.

Leading 2-1 from last week’s first leg in Switzerland, Chelsea risked elimination after Mohamed Salah’s well-taken goal in first-half injury time put the visitors 1-0 up on the night.

But goals from Fernando Torres and Victor Moses and a David Luiz stunner early in the second half gave last season’s Champions League winners a 5-2 aggregate victory that sets up a meeting with Benfica in the final in Amsterdam on May 15.

It was a case of third time lucky for Chelsea, who lost in the semi-finals in both the League Cup and the FA Cup this season, while Basel fell short in their attempt to become the first Swiss team to reach a major European final.

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez will now look to end a testing season by claiming the second Europa League title of his career after his 2004 success with Valencia, although his immediate priority is to secure a return to the Champions League via the league. “I came to do a professional job with the commitment of the players. I am pleased for them and everyone here,” said Benitez, who has struggled to win over the club’s fans since arriving in November.

Basel captain Marco Streller passed a late fitness to start at Stamford Bridge and he almost made an immediate impression, shooting wide from a good position in the first minute.

Chelsea’s fans had just taken to serenading former coach Jose Mourinho, who has been linked with a return to the club this week, when the hosts’ first chance arrived in the ninth minute. — AFP