Europa League round-up: Napoli, Sevilla, Dnipro and Fiorentina progress to semis
Wednesday 6 May 2015 13:43, UK
Holders Sevilla sealed their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday after a dramatic 2-2 draw with Zenit St Petersburg in Russia saw them progress 4-3 on aggregate.
The Spanish side threw away a commanding lead in the tie by conceding two second-half goals, and the match looked to be heading for extra time until substitute Kevin Gameiro popped up with five minutes remaining.
The French striker, whose penalty in the shoot-out against Benfica in last season's final secured the trophy for Unai Emery's side, beat Yuri Lodygin with a crisp strike to silence the Petrovski Stadium and take Sevilla into Friday's draw.
Carlos Bacca had put Sevilla ahead early on from the penalty spot, before Jose Rondon replied in the second half to halve the deficit in the tie.
Hulk squared the tie with an incredible 40-yard strike that hit the underside of the crossbar, before Gameiro's late goal.
Italy will have two representatives in the semi-finals after Fiorentina and Napoli both sealed their progress.
After scoring a late away goal in Kiev last week to hold Dynamo Kiev to a 1-1 draw, Fiorentina won the return 2-0 against the Ukrainian giants thanks to a goal in each half from Mario Gomez and substitute Juan Manuel Vargas.
Dynamo were then reduced to 10 men five minutes before the interval as Dutchman Jeremain Lens was shown a second yellow card after being harshly adjudged to have dived on the edge of the box.
The Florence outfit are through to a first European semi-final since reaching the last four of the UEFA Cup in 2008 and they are joined by Napoli, whose 2-2 draw at home to Wolfsburg saw them progress 6-3 on aggregate.
After a big win in Germany last week, Rafa Benitez's side increased their aggregate lead as Gonzalo Higuain set up Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens to score second-half goals at the San Paolo.
Timm Klose and Ivan Perisic scored to earn Wolfsburg a draw on the night and rescue some pride.
In Kiev, Dnipro made it through to a first ever European semi-final as a late goal from substitute Yevhen Shakhov sealed a 1-0 win over Club Brugge.
After a goalless first leg last week, the tie appeared to be heading for extra time until Shakhov struck in the 82nd minute to inflict a first defeat on the Belgians in 16 games in the competition this season.
The draw for the Europa League semi-final will take place at 11am on Friday along with the draw for the Champions League semi-final
