Luiz stunner helps Chelsea into another European final while Cardozo brace sends Benfica to Amsterdam

               

Chelsea will play Benfica in the European League Final after a 3-1 comeback win over FC Basel at Stamford Bridge gave them a 5-2 aggregate semi-final win.

Rafael Benitez’s side were leading 2-1 from the away leg in Switzerland but they had a fright when Mohamed Salah finished coolly just before half-time.

But a rampant performance after the break saw the Blues put Murat Yakin’s side to the sword, with Fernando Torres, Victor Moses and David Luiz all scoring in 10 action-packed minutes before the hour mark.

Luiz’s strike was a particular delight, vindicating Benitez’s decision to play him as a midfielder, where his ability on the ball is put to greater effect than his tendency to get caught out of position.

Chelsea now bid to become the first side to win Europe’s secondary club competition the year after claiming the Champions League title, although they have a tough test in Luiz’s former employers Benfica in Amsterdam on May 15.

Basel, meanwhile, miss out on the opportunity to be the first Swiss side in a major European final.

                                WHILE

In the other match of the day Oscar Cardozo struck a magnificent brace as Benfica surged into the Europa League final courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahce in Portugal.

                     

The Paraguayan hot-shot struck either side of the interval to turn the tie around after Dirk Kuyt's penalty had cancelled out Nicolas Gaitan's superb opener.

It means the Eagles are through to a first European final since 1990 thanks to a rollercoaster 3-2 success on aggregate.

Jorge Jesus's men will now face Chelsea in a showpiece occasion at the Amsterdam Arena on May 15.

For Fenerbahce the game represented an opportunity to reach an inaugural continental final, while Benfica were hoping to stay on course for their first European success since 1962.