Sporting 1-1 Juventus (agg 1-2): Italian side reach last four

04/21/2023

Sporting Lisbon 1-1 Juventus (agg 1-2): Italian side hold firm to reach the Europa League semi-finals despite Marcus Edwards’ first-half penalty cancelling out Adrien Rabiot’s opener

Juventus saw off stubborn test from Sporting Lisbon to win 2-1 on aggregate
Adrien Rabiot scored opener in ninth minute before Marcus Edwards levelled
The Italian side will now play Sevilla in the semi-finals after they beat Man Utd

An early goal by midfielder Adrien Rabiot earned Juventus a 1-1 draw with Sporting in an entertaining Europa League clash on Thursday to win their quarter-final 2-1 on aggregate and set up a semi-final clash with Sevilla.

Juventus, who saw their 15-point deduction in Serie A over the club’s transfer dealings scrapped earlier on Thursday pending a new trial, had earned a 1-0 victory in the first leg with a second-half goal by defender Federico Gatti.

They will meet Sevilla in the semi-finals on May 11 and 18 after the Spanish side knocked out Manchester United 5-2 on aggregate.

Juventus took an early lead through Rabiot who netted from close range after nine minutes following a corner.

Sporting winger Marcus Edwards equalised from the penalty spot in the 20th minute when he sent Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way with a strike into the middle of the goal after Rabiot was penalised for a tackle on Manuel Ugarte.

Juventus players celebrate after reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday

Adrien Rabiot (left) celebrates opening the scoring for Juventus at Sporting Lisbon

Rabiot pounced inside the box to fire the Italian side ahead in the Europa League last-eight tie

The Lisbon side had hit the woodwork moments before.

Sporting came close to taking a surprise lead and levelling the tie in the 35th minute when defender Ousmane Diomande connected with a corner but his header narrowly missed the target.

Just before halftime, Sporting winger Nuno Santos tried to square the ball inside the box coming from the left but Juve defender Gleison Bremer blocked the threat right in front of the diving Szczesny.

Marcus Edwards celebrates equalising via the penalty spot for Sporting Lisbon on the night

The former Tottenham forward sent Wojciech Szczesny the wrong way from 12 yards out

MATCH FACTS

Sporting (3-4-2-1): Adan, Diomande, Coates, Inacio (Reis 81), Ricardo Esgaio, Ugarte, Morita, Nuno Santos (Arthur 87), Edwards, Goncalves, Trincao (Chermiti 81).

Subs not used: Alexandropoulos, Israel, Neto, Rochinha, Fatawu, Bellerin, Tanlongo, Pinto, Essugo.

Goal: Edwards 20pen

Booked: Ugarte, Edwards

Juventus (4-3-3): Szczesny, Cuadrado, Danilo, Bremer (Gatti 73), Alex Sandro, Rabiot, Locatelli, Miretti (Pogba 72), Di Maria, Vlahovic (Milik 71), Chiesa (Kostic 78).

Subs not used: De Sciglio, Bonucci, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Soule, Paredes, Perin, Fagioli.

Goal: Rabiot 9

Booked: Gatti, Pogba

Referee: Francois Letexier (France)

After the break Sporting pressed with confidence for possession but they squandered three more opportunities to level the match.

Ruben Amorim’s side should have found the net in the 75th minute when defender Ricardo Esgaio latched on to a pass on the edge of the box only to see his volley fly over the bar, while Sebastian Coates spurned two more chances minutes from time.

Sporting have now completed a run of five home European matches without a win for the first time in the club’s history, having recorded two losses and two draws in their previous four.

They have lost each of their last seven ties with Italian clubs.

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