Chelsea 4-3 Slavia Prague (5-3 agg): Blues survive second half fightback from visitors to reach Europa League semi-finals

Chelsea 4-3 Slavia Prague (5-3 agg): Blues survive second half fightback from visitors to reach Europa League semi-finals
Chelsea made it through to the semi-finals of the Europa League but it was far from a comfortable win against Slavia Prague at Stamford Bridge.The Blues were 4-1 up after 27 minutes into the match and looked capable of scoring several more before the end.A second-half fight back by the visitors, and two superb long-distance goals from Petr Sevcik, saw a nervy Chelsea claim a 4-3 win and a 5-3 aggregate victory.4

Pedro opens the scoring for Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri named a strong side at Stamford Bridge with both Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante starting, with both rested for the first leg in Prague.It took just five minutes for Chelsea to double their aggregate lead as Pedro produced a sublime dinked finish after a neat one-two with striker Olivier Giroud.And the tie appeared as though it was as good as over just five minutes later as the Blues doubled their lead on the night. Another smart team move set Pedro up with a simple tap-in from close range.4

Olivier Giroud scores Chelsea’s third

But the Spanish winger inexplicably fired his effort against the post, only for it to bounce up into the face of Slavia Prague defender Simon Deli and rebound into the net.The goals just kept coming for Sarri’s rampant Chelsea, who had their third after 17 minutes with Pedro this time the provider.He squared for Giroud to score his 10th Europa League goal of the season.The visitors, trailing 4-0 on aggregate, pulled a goal back through captain Tomas Soucek who headed in unmarked from a corner.4

Tomas Soucek gets on back for Slavia Prague

But moments later Chelsea restored that advantage with their fourth goal of the night as Pedro bundled in.Slavia Prague grabbed their second of the night shortly after half time to reduce their aggregate deficit to 5-2.Petr Sevcik’s superb 20-yard strike was out of the reach of Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.4

Slavia Prague celebrate scoring

And Sevcik repeated the feat from similar range in the 55th minute to give the visitors hope of an astonishing fightback.His right-footed strike flew into the top corner as Prague made it 4-3 on the night, to cut Chelsea’s aggregate lead to 5-3.Suddenly the Blues’ cruise was under threat. And had Sevcik connected in the box when he slipped instead, their last-four place could have come under serious threat.David Luiz got away with a cynical handball to deny Slavia a late chance, with the visitors squandering their free-kick on the edge of the Chelsea area. And so the Blues held out, surviving a genuine fright when they should have breezed through.They will go on to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final after they beat Benfica, the first leg will be played on May 2 and May 9.In the second semi-final, Arsenal will play Valencia.

---

Klopp appeared to say 'f***ing hell, what a s*** game' at the final whistle as he shook hands with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 10 Liverpool are a point clear at the top of the Premier League but have now
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp appears to say 'f****** hell

---

Allegri's last game in charge of Juventus ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Sampdoria on Sunday courtesy of late goals from Gregoire Defrel and Gianluca Caprari. The 51-year-old head coach has been linked with a number of jobs around Europe - including Chelsea and Bayern Munich - but Allegri said he will not rush into his next move and
Juventus: 'I will choose a team I like' -Massimiliano Allegri

---

Leeds United and Brighton & Hove Albion are battling it out for teenage striker Mateusz Bogusz, according to a report. The 17-year-old currently plies his trade for Ruch Chorzow, where his
Blades promoted to Premier League as chaos reigns in Leeds

---

Latest Kieran Tierney #63 news, stats, photos and videos on MSN Sport
Danny Rose wants to make Tottenham's new stadium a 'fortress

---

England vs Scotland live on talkSPORT: Free commentary stream, kick-off time and team news for Women's World C
Switzerland vs England live on talkSPORT: Free commentary

---

Atletico Madrid 2 Monaco 0: Penalty misery for Falcao as host cruises into last 16 Radamel Falcao missed the target with a late penalty as Atletico Madrid earned a 2-0 win over Monaco to reach the Champions League last 16.
Atletico Madrid 2 Monaco 0: Penalty misery for Falcao as

---

Ahead of Thursday's EFL Cup semi-final clash with Tottenham, Chelsea have issued the club's fans with a warning over anti-Semitic chanting. Chelsea have warned the club's fans over anti-Semitic
Chelsea plead with fans not to sing anti-semitic chants as

---

FULL TRANSCRIPT: Read Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's quotes from first interview as Manchester United manager. (Sir Alex Ferguson) is and will always be the best at how you manage people so my
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Manchester United press conference

---

Jorginho's agent Joao Santos has spoken out on criticisms of Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea and has backed the Italian manager to find the right 'tactical and technical' solution at Stamford Bridge. Sarri is once again under pressure at the Bridge having been beaten 2-0 by Everton at the weekend in another poor performance that followed a last
Jorginho's agent provides Chelsea future update amid Sarri

---

Charlie Austin has been charged by the Football Association for making an "abusive and/or insulting" gesture as he was substituted during Southampton's defeat to Manchester City. The incident concerns the striker's conduct as he made way for Shane Long in the 68th minute of the 3-1 loss to City at St Mary's on Sunday.
Charlie Austin: Southampton striker charged by FA - Sportstar

---

Manchester United transfer news: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer urged to forget signing 'world class' stars and go after the best young players Manchester United have been told to ditch their recent trend of signing big-name and big-money stars and instead aim to bring the world's best young players to
Manchester United transfer news RECAP Jesse Lingard receives

---

We've gone through every club's squad list to decide in the most scientific way possible - by looking at their squad photos - who wins the handsome Premier League. So without further ado… 20. Watford. We often talk about how difficult it is to name an actual Watford player, never mind recognise one. To be fair to the Hornets, they add

---

Maurizio Sarri has stormed out of Chelsea's training session just 24 hours before their Europa League final match against Arsenal. The Blues face their London rivals at Baku's Olympic Stadium on Wednesday evening and were taking part in one of their final training sessions ahead of the match.
~ Chelsea vs Arsenal: Maurizio Sarri storms off in fury

---

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Monaco: Diego Simeone's side reach the Champions League knockout stages after Benoit Badiashile own goal and Antoine Griezmann strike Atletico Madrid have booked their place in
More misery for Henry as Atletico Madrid beat Monaco

---