Europa League: Juventus net late equaliser against Sevilla as Roma edge out Bayer Leverkusen
Basel also beat Fiorentina in their Europa Conference League semi-final first leg
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Your support makes all the difference.Federico Gatti’s goal deep into stoppage time snatched a 1-1 draw for Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Sevilla in Turin.
The Spaniards, who had come from behind to knock out Manchester United in the last round, took the lead in the 26th minute through Youssef En-Nesyri.
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri used all five substitutes in a bid to find a way back into the match during the second half.
Just when it looked like Sevilla had held out to take a defendable lead back to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan next week, Gatti, sent on for the last half hour, nodded in following a corner to keep the tie in the balance.
AS Roma grabbed a 1-0 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday thanks to 20-year-old Edoardo Bove’s second-half goal. Roma youth product Bove stabbed in the winner on the rebound in the 63rd minute for his first European goal.
Roma, bidding to win back-to-back European titles under coach Jose Mourinho following last season’s Europa Conference League triumph, travel to Leverkusen next week for the return leg.
It had all started according to plan for Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen, who have not made a European final since their 2002 appearance in the Champions League showpiece.
In a lively start they came close twice, with Robert Andrich’s shot saved after 40 seconds and Florian Wirtz wasting a golden chance when he fired wide.
The hosts, missing several players through injury and with Paulo Dybala and Georginio Wijnaldum not fully fit yet and on the bench, responded with Roger Ibanez’ powerful header which Hradecky palmed wide with a superb reflex save.
They broke the deadlock just past the hour when Bove started a move and stabbed in on the rebound after Hradecky had saved Tammy Abraham’s shot. The visitors almost bagged an unexpected equaliser towards the end of a scrappy second half but Jeremie Frimpong’s 87th-minute shot was blocked on the line.
Meanwhile in the Europa Conference League, West Ham came from behind to beat AZ Alkmaar and Zeki Amdouni struck in stoppage time as Basel won 2-1 at Fiorentina. Arthur Cabral headed the Italians in front from a corner in the 25th minute.
Basel, though, were back on level terms with 20 minutes left through a fine individual effort from Andy Diouf before Amdouni completed the turnaround when he slotted in what could prove a crucial second goal following a free-kick.
Reuters, PA
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