Érik Lamela fires Sevilla past Juventus and into Europa League final
Europa League thoroughbreds Sevilla fought back to reach yet another final as substitute Érik Lamela scored with a fabulous header five minutes into extra time to earn a gritty 2-1 win over Juventus on Thursday, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory.
The Spaniards will bid for a record-extending seventh Europa League title when they face Roma in the final in Budapest on 31 May, after José Mourinho’s side drew 0-0 at Bayer Leverkusen to secure a 1-0 aggregate victory in their semi-final.
Juventus, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Sevilla in the first leg, looked on course to reach the final when the substitute Dusan Vlahovic scored with a tidy finish in the 65th minute at a raucous Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
But midfielder Suso levelled six minutes later with a stunning long-range strike to take the game into extra time. Former Spurs man Lamela then wrapped up the win when he leapt in a crowded area and sent a towering header into the net to delight the fans.
