Soccer

Valencia produce remarkable comeback to beat Basle

Spaniards join Juventus, Sevilla and Benfica in Europa League semi-finals

Valencia players celebrate the fourth against FC Basel at Mestalla stadium. Photograph: Georgios Kefalla / EPA
Valencia players celebrate the fourth against FC Basel at Mestalla stadium. Photograph: Georgios Kefalla / EPA
Thu Apr 10 2014 - 23:25

Valencia booked their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League with a remarkable comeback to beat Basle 5-0.

The Swiss led 3-0 from the first leg but Valencia cancelled that out in normal time and Paco Alcacer completed his hat-trick to win the tie in the 24th minute of extra time.

It is the first time any team has recovered from a 3-0 deficit since the first Europa League season in 2009-10.

Alcacer netted either side of an Eduardo Vargas header to draw Valencia level on aggregate, while Juan Bernat added a late fifth

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Basle did not help themselves by having Marcelo Diaz and Gaston Sauro needlessly sent off in the first period of extra time.

Juventus stayed on track to contest the final in their home stadium with a 2-1 victory over Lyon in the second leg.

The Italians led 1-0 from the first match and doubled their aggregate lead in only the fourth minute through a pinpoint free-kick from Andrea Pirlo.

Jimmy Briand gave Lyon an away goal with an 18th-minute header but Claudio Marchisio restored Juventus' lead in the 68th minute.

Sevilla are also into the last four after seeing off Porto 4-2 on aggregate.

Porto led Sevilla 1-0 after the first leg but the Spaniards dominated the return, winning 4-1.

Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after Carlos Bacca had been fouled.

Vitolo put Sevilla ahead on aggregate in the 26th minute and Bacca added the third three minutes later.

The second half started badly for Sevilla when they had full-back Coke sent off in the 54th minute but there was to be no comeback for Porto and Kevin Gameiro made it four in the 79th minute.

Ricardo Quaresma’s thumping injury-time strike was little consolation for Porto.

There will be Portuguese representation in the last four however after Benfica eased to a 2-0 win over AZ Alkmaar, 3-0 on aggregate, thanks to a goal in each half by Rodrigo.