Cardozo Fires Benfica Into Europa Final

[Folami David]

Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo's well-taken double fired Benfica into a Europa League final with Chelsea after they beat Fenerbahce 3-1 in Lisbon to win their semifinal 3-2 on aggregate.
.
Top scorer Cardozo, who signed a new deal in January and has a €60 million buyout clause in his contract, proved too hot to handle after Dirk Kuyt's away goal had given Fenerbahce the upper hand.
.
Benfica, last in a continental final in 1990 when the Portuguese lost to AC Milan in the European Cup showpiece, took just nine minutes to cancel out Fenerbahce's 1-0 lead from the first leg when Nicolas Gaitan clipped in Lima's low cross.
.
The hosts were then stunned when Kuyt levelled midway through the half from the penalty spot after Ezequiel Garay handled, meaning Benfica needed to score at least twice more.
.
Cardozo's fine left-foot finish restored Benfica's lead on 35 minutes in a breathless first half and his decisive strike came on 66 with another crisp low shot from inside the area.
.
The final is in Amsterdam on May 15 when Benfica will have the chance to win their first European trophy since lifting the second of their successive European Cups in 1962.
.
"This is historic given the last time Benfica got to a European final and we get there with all justice," Benfica coach Jorge Jesus told Portuguese television.
.
"Our dynamic was stronger, pace higher and we managed to keep it throughout the match because we kept the ball. They scored from a penalty but never really created a lot of problems."
.
Chelsea, last season's Champions League winners, beat FC Basle 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday to ease through 5-2.

[Shola Sholaz]

Benfica would be able to defeat Chelsea Football Club if their strickers come to the party on the day of the final