(KEYSTONE/Ennio Leanza)
Valencia have eliminated Mohamed El Nenny’s FC Basel From the Europa League quarter-finals following a humiliating 5-0 defeat at the Mestalla Stadium, 5-3 on aggregate to reach the semis.
After beating them 3-0 in Basel, the Swiss side were lost against Juan Antonio Pizzi’s players who, in contrast, were having one of their best nights of the season.
The Mestalla crowd had to wait until the 38th minute to see the opener, when Alcacer Paco chested down a Joao Pereira through pass before sending a cool finish into Yann Sommer’s net reviving Valencia hopes. Just 4 minutes later, Edu Vargas made it 2-0 with a potent header.
Valencia continued to dominate in the second half, with Murat Yakin substituting Emilio Delgado and David Degen with Giovanni Sio and Naser Aliji respectively, but no difference was figured out on the pitch.
The two goalscorers combined in the 70th minute with a delightful cut back from Vargas to the onrushing Alcacer, who lashed the ball into the top left corner to level the tie.
The Spanish team has almost scored the winner just before full time, thanks to Basel’s Sommer who made an outstanding effort to deny a one-to-one chance with Alcacer, before Vargas slid the rebound off the base of the right post, forcing the game to extra time.
Sommer impressed again just after three minutes of extra time, denying Daniel Parejo after good work with the promising left back Juan Bernat.
Basel lost hope of scoring a crucial goal when Diaz was shown a straight red card for a needless kick at Ricardo Costa and Sauro followed him five minutes later after two yellow cards in a minute.
Valencia took full advantage, with Alcacer completing his hat-trick after 113 minutes and Juan Bernat rounding off a huge win with the fifth goal that secured his side’s place in Europa League semi-finals.
