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— Pedro scored vital away goal in Europa League semi-final for Chelsea
— Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led an impressive Arsenal fightback at the Emirates
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's late goal gave Arsenal a commanding 3-1 lead over Valencia after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
The Gabon striker volleyed in from close-range in the final minute to give Arsenal a more comfortable advantage than they had seemed likely to take back to the Mestalla next Thursday, turning in Sead Kolasinac's pinpoint cross.
Things had looked like panning out very differently with Valencia starting the brighter at the Emirates, and Mouctar Diakhaby headed in from a corner to cement their early dominance (11).
But Alexandre Lacazette single-handedly mounted the Gunners' first-half turnaround, first combining with Aubameyang, who he played through with a wonderful 40-yard slide-rule pass before taking the return in his stride and levelling with Arsenal's first shot of the game (18).
And as the hosts grew in confidence, he then headed in from Granit Xhaka's cross despite Neto's desperate attempt to keep his effort from crossing the line (26).
His double, added to Aubameyang's late third which was met with wild celebrations from Unai Emery, leaves Arsenal in pole position to reach their first European final since 2006 ahead of next week's second leg.
Arsenal turned despair to glory
It looked an all-too familiar story for out-of-form Arsenal early on as Valencia took control early on, and they were given a major let-off when Daniel Parejo's free-kick was turned across goal and Ezequiel Garay volleyed over from a great position inside the six-yard box.
Any regrets he had were soon wiped out though, when some more charitable Arsenal defending contributed to the visitors' opener. Parejo's corner was met by Rodrigo at the far post and headed back across goal, where Diakhaby beat Granit Xhaka, Lacazette and Mustafi in the air to head beyond Petr Cech.
Valencia began to turn the screw at an already-frustrated Emirates but shortly after Goncalo Guedes turned an awful Ainsley Maitland-Niles backpass over the bar, Arsenal lit the spark that would ignite their performance.
Mesut Ozil fed Lacazette on the half-way line and after turning Cristiano Piccini with ease, he slid the ball through the eye of a needle to find Aubameyang on the break 40 yards ahead. He held off two defenders and drew Neto out of his goal while waiting for Lacazette's run, before squaring for his strike partner to fire into an empty net from 18 yards.
Suddenly this was a different Arsenal. Lacazette was given another glorious chance eight minutes later when Xhaka's cross from deep found him unmarked on the right. Neto made a mess of his near-post header, pushing it onto the post before clearing, but a buzz on the referee's watch indicated the ball had already crossed the line for Arsenal's second.
The hosts were in control of the match but questions remained of what this Valencia side had left in its locker. After half-time, any worries of a second-half backlash were gradually extinguished as the Gunners mounted a largely disciplined attempt to see the game out, while still looking for an all-important third if they could get it.
That was nothing, however, compared to his miss after Aubameyang had tricked his way past Gabriel and teed him up at the far post, only for the Frenchman to waste a glorious chance for the match ball and miss the ball altogether with a diving header - and he was nearly made to pay when substitute Kevin Gameiro came close at the other end, only for Cech to deny him with a smart save.
Just as it looked like those misses would catch up with Arsenal, Kolasinac finally produced a quality delivery from wide when it mattered most, finding Aubameyang's run to the back post, with his volley putting a very different shine on an already impressive comeback from the Gunners - and leaving Valencia an
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea
Luka Jovic scored the opener for Eintracht Frankfurt to set up finely-poised second leg uphill task at the Mestalla next week.
Pedro scored a vital away goal for Chelsea in their Europa League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.
There was a raucous atmosphere ahead of kick-off and the home fans were rewarded when Luka Jovic headed home in the 23rd minute.
But Chelsea soon found their rhythm and Pedro made it count with the equaliser - and an away goal - as he fired home on the stroke of half-time.
Chelsea should have added another in the second half, with David Luiz hitting the crossbar with a free-kick, but the tie remains finely-poised for next Thursday's second leg at Stamford Bridge.
How Chelsea drew in Germany
Frankfurt were the better side in the opening exchanges and captain David Abraham could have put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute after Fliip Kostic's free kick was flicked on into his path, but he lifted his shot over the crossbar.
Two minutes later though, Frankfurt had their opener. Some poor control from Chelsea in midfield allowed the hosts to set Kostic away down the left-hand side. He then fired in a cross and Jovic - who had got in between two Chelsea defenders - guided it home with a low header for his 26th goal of the season.
This seemed to jolt Chelsea and they went close not long after as Pedro fired a volley towards goal, which just whistled past the post, before Ruben Loftus-Cheek darted across the top of the box before shooting wide.
Chelsea continued on the front foot for the second half and twice went close before the hour mark. After a superb, driving run and a one-two with Pedro, Loftus-Cheek lifted a shot just over the crossbar before a David Luiz free kick rattled the upright. He managed to lift the ball over the wall but the fingertips of Kevin Trapp sent the effort clattering onto the bar.
Eden Hazard was introduced not long after and was involved in two fine Chelsea chances around the 75-minute mark. Loftus-Cheek shot straight at Trapp, who pushed it away, and Hazard was only able to blaze the rebound over. He then whipped a superb free kick into the area, but Luiz also sent his bullet header into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Despite looking tired for much of the second half, Frankfurt rallied in the final ten minutes and twice could have nabbed the winner. Another wonderful cross from Danny da Costa just missed the run of Goncalo Paciencia before Abraham headed over the crossbar when unmarked, six yards out.
— Pedro scored vital away goal in Europa League semi-final for Chelsea
— Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang led an impressive Arsenal fightback at the Emirates
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| Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Celebrate their goals |
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's late goal gave Arsenal a commanding 3-1 lead over Valencia after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
The Gabon striker volleyed in from close-range in the final minute to give Arsenal a more comfortable advantage than they had seemed likely to take back to the Mestalla next Thursday, turning in Sead Kolasinac's pinpoint cross.
Things had looked like panning out very differently with Valencia starting the brighter at the Emirates, and Mouctar Diakhaby headed in from a corner to cement their early dominance (11).
But Alexandre Lacazette single-handedly mounted the Gunners' first-half turnaround, first combining with Aubameyang, who he played through with a wonderful 40-yard slide-rule pass before taking the return in his stride and levelling with Arsenal's first shot of the game (18).
And as the hosts grew in confidence, he then headed in from Granit Xhaka's cross despite Neto's desperate attempt to keep his effort from crossing the line (26).
His double, added to Aubameyang's late third which was met with wild celebrations from Unai Emery, leaves Arsenal in pole position to reach their first European final since 2006 ahead of next week's second leg.
Arsenal turned despair to glory
It looked an all-too familiar story for out-of-form Arsenal early on as Valencia took control early on, and they were given a major let-off when Daniel Parejo's free-kick was turned across goal and Ezequiel Garay volleyed over from a great position inside the six-yard box.
Any regrets he had were soon wiped out though, when some more charitable Arsenal defending contributed to the visitors' opener. Parejo's corner was met by Rodrigo at the far post and headed back across goal, where Diakhaby beat Granit Xhaka, Lacazette and Mustafi in the air to head beyond Petr Cech.
Valencia began to turn the screw at an already-frustrated Emirates but shortly after Goncalo Guedes turned an awful Ainsley Maitland-Niles backpass over the bar, Arsenal lit the spark that would ignite their performance.
Mesut Ozil fed Lacazette on the half-way line and after turning Cristiano Piccini with ease, he slid the ball through the eye of a needle to find Aubameyang on the break 40 yards ahead. He held off two defenders and drew Neto out of his goal while waiting for Lacazette's run, before squaring for his strike partner to fire into an empty net from 18 yards.
Suddenly this was a different Arsenal. Lacazette was given another glorious chance eight minutes later when Xhaka's cross from deep found him unmarked on the right. Neto made a mess of his near-post header, pushing it onto the post before clearing, but a buzz on the referee's watch indicated the ball had already crossed the line for Arsenal's second.
The hosts were in control of the match but questions remained of what this Valencia side had left in its locker. After half-time, any worries of a second-half backlash were gradually extinguished as the Gunners mounted a largely disciplined attempt to see the game out, while still looking for an all-important third if they could get it.
That was nothing, however, compared to his miss after Aubameyang had tricked his way past Gabriel and teed him up at the far post, only for the Frenchman to waste a glorious chance for the match ball and miss the ball altogether with a diving header - and he was nearly made to pay when substitute Kevin Gameiro came close at the other end, only for Cech to deny him with a smart save.
Just as it looked like those misses would catch up with Arsenal, Kolasinac finally produced a quality delivery from wide when it mattered most, finding Aubameyang's run to the back post, with his volley putting a very different shine on an already impressive comeback from the Gunners - and leaving Valencia an
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-1 Chelsea
Luka Jovic scored the opener for Eintracht Frankfurt to set up finely-poised second leg uphill task at the Mestalla next week.
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| Pedro scored a crucial away goal for Chelsea |
Pedro scored a vital away goal for Chelsea in their Europa League semi-final first leg 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.
There was a raucous atmosphere ahead of kick-off and the home fans were rewarded when Luka Jovic headed home in the 23rd minute.
But Chelsea soon found their rhythm and Pedro made it count with the equaliser - and an away goal - as he fired home on the stroke of half-time.
Chelsea should have added another in the second half, with David Luiz hitting the crossbar with a free-kick, but the tie remains finely-poised for next Thursday's second leg at Stamford Bridge.
How Chelsea drew in Germany
Frankfurt were the better side in the opening exchanges and captain David Abraham could have put the hosts ahead in the 21st minute after Fliip Kostic's free kick was flicked on into his path, but he lifted his shot over the crossbar.
Two minutes later though, Frankfurt had their opener. Some poor control from Chelsea in midfield allowed the hosts to set Kostic away down the left-hand side. He then fired in a cross and Jovic - who had got in between two Chelsea defenders - guided it home with a low header for his 26th goal of the season.
This seemed to jolt Chelsea and they went close not long after as Pedro fired a volley towards goal, which just whistled past the post, before Ruben Loftus-Cheek darted across the top of the box before shooting wide.
Chelsea continued on the front foot for the second half and twice went close before the hour mark. After a superb, driving run and a one-two with Pedro, Loftus-Cheek lifted a shot just over the crossbar before a David Luiz free kick rattled the upright. He managed to lift the ball over the wall but the fingertips of Kevin Trapp sent the effort clattering onto the bar.
Eden Hazard was introduced not long after and was involved in two fine Chelsea chances around the 75-minute mark. Loftus-Cheek shot straight at Trapp, who pushed it away, and Hazard was only able to blaze the rebound over. He then whipped a superb free kick into the area, but Luiz also sent his bullet header into the hands of the goalkeeper.
Despite looking tired for much of the second half, Frankfurt rallied in the final ten minutes and twice could have nabbed the winner. Another wonderful cross from Danny da Costa just missed the run of Goncalo Paciencia before Abraham headed over the crossbar when unmarked, six yards out.
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