By Olumide T. Agunbiade
CHELSEA will play Benfica in Amsterdam on May
15 after the London based club reached their third European final in six years
after winning 3 – 1 in their Europa League semi-final second leg against Basel.
Rafael benitez’s team proved too strong for the Swiss minnows
over the two matches and an aggregate victory of 5-2 reflected the difference
in quality between the sides. Chelsea’s place in the final leaves them on
course for their second European trophy in two year.
The Europa League lacks the prestige and glamour of its
richer, hallowed cousin, the Champions League, but victory in the Netherlands
in 13 days would add considerable gloss to what has been a patchy, often
poisonous, campaign.
