Yevhen Seleznyov heads Dnipro into first European final
ByTNT Sports
Updated 14/05/2015 at 23:03 GMT+1
Europa League semi-final second leg, Kiev Olympic Stadium - Dnipro 1- 0 Napoli; first leg: Napoli - Dnipro 1-1: Dnipro win 2-1 on aggregate.
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's players, coaches and staff celebrate their victory over Napoli in the Europa League semi-final second leg soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, May 14, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk reached their first European final when Yevhen Seleznyov's header gave them a 1-0 win over Napoli in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
The Ukrainians, backed by a fervent sell-out crowd at Kiev's Olympic stadium, completed a 2-1 aggregate win after drawing 1-1 in last week's first leg when Seleznyov was also on target.
They will face holders Sevilla in the May 27 final in Warsaw after the Spaniards beat Fiorentina 2-0 away to wrap up a 5-0 aggregate triumph on a bad night for the Italians.
Gonzalo Higuain continued his duel with Denys Boyko in the Dnipro goal from the first leg, but again found the Ukrainian ‘keeper impenetrable.
The Argentinian hitman had a powerful effort from point blank range brilliantly stopped by Boyko almost straight away, before Boyko again denied Higuain, tipping his flicked header around the post.
Conditions were not favouring the visitors, who struggled to get going on the sodden Kiev pitch, and as they toiled to really test Boyko in the second half, the hosts broke clear to book their first European final appearance.
Dnipro's main threat Yevhen Konoplyanka brought the ball forward down the left flank, whipped a pinpoint ball into the box, and despite being surrounded by defenders, as well as Napoli goalkeeper Mariano Andujar, Seleznyov managed to head the ball past the stranded stopper to put his side in front in the tie for the first time.
The inevitable onslaught eventually came from Rafael Benitez’s men, but they did not test Boyko in the home goal enough.
Douglas did brilliantly to head a sliced Higuain volley off the line, and substitute Dries Mertens had a few speculative efforts at goal, but Dnipro held firm.
Hundreds of miles from their home, in their temporary surroundings, Dnipro made history, and ended Benitez’s hopes of winning the competition with his third different club.
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FC Dnipro's Artem Fedetskiy (C) heads the ball during the UEFA Europa League semi-final second leg football match FC Dnipro vs SSC Napoli, on May 14, 2015 in Kiev
Image credit: AFP
KEY EVENTS
8 - BOYKA KEEPS HIGUAIN OUT AGAIN! After his heroics in the first leg, Boyko again denies Higuain from point-blank range. It was a superb pass from Gokhan Inler to pick out the Argentinian. He should really have scored, but excellent goalkeeping, made himself big.
28 - SAVE! Once again, Higuain is denied by Boyko. This time Faouzi Ghoulam with the assist, and Higuain's header looks goalbound after skidding off the greasy surface, but Boyko again gets across to claw it away.
35 - SAVE! Once again it is David Lopez who is caught on the ball, gifting possession to Seleznyov, who curls at goal, but Andujar gets across and tips it around the post.
58 - GOAL! SELEZNYOV HEADS DNIPRO IN FRONT! Dnipro put one foot into their first European final after Seleznyov nods the opener in a sodden Kiev to give his side the lead on aggregate. Napoli have to score twice to go through in 90 minutes.
78 - OFF THE LINE! Douglas crucially heads the ball off the line after Higuain had sliced a volley over Boyko. Looked to be going in, but Douglas got back brilliantly.
90+1 - CROSSBAR! Matheus has so much room to seal it, but he sees his header come back off the woodwork!
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Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Yevhen Seleznyov (C, back) shoots to score as Napoli's Miguel Britos (C, front) fails to stop him during their Europa League semi-final second leg soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, May 14, 2015
Image credit: Reuters
KEY STATS
That makes 102 different clubs to qualify for a European competition final (third Ukranian).
Dnipro have never won the Ukrainian league, though they twice won the old Soviet league (last in 1988)
European competitions: Sevilla: 3 finals - 3 wins. Ukraine clubs: 3 finals - 3 wins - Kyiv 1975, 1986 (part of former Soviet Union) and Shakhtar 2009.
TALKING POINT
Will Rafael Benitez lose his job at Napoli? With Gli Azzurri stuttering in the league, the Europa League looked like their best bet of securing a Champions League spot for next season, but after missing a host of chances over the two legs against Dnipro, will the volatile Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis lose his patience with the former Liverpool boss after their exit from the competition?
MAN OF THE MATCH
Douglas (Dnipro): The Brazilian defender dealt with the threat of Higuain brilliantly, and despite Higuain having several chances, Douglas kept Higuain quiet on the whole. The Ukrainians were supposed to succumb to the might of Napoli, but Douglas and his fellow defenders kept the Italians at bay.
PLAYER RATINGS
DNIPRO: Boyko 8, Fedetskiy 7, Douglas 8, Cheberyachko 6, Matos 7, Fedorchuk 7, Kankava 6, Luchkevych 7, Rotan 6, Konoplyanka 8, Seleznyov 7. Subs: Bruno Gama 6 Kalinic 6, Matheus 7.
NAPOLI: Andujar 6, Maggio 6, Albiol 5, Britos 6, Ghoulam 7, David Lopez 4, Inler 6, Callejon 6, Gabbiadini 5, Insigne 6, Higuain 6. Subs: Henrique 6, Mertens 6, Hamsik 5.
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