Sevilla reach Europa League final after seeing off Fiorentina

Sevilla have booked their place in the Europa League final after punishing some woeful defending from Fiorentina to win 2-0.

The Spanish side cruised through 5-0 on aggregate after first half goals from Carlos Bacca and Daniel Carrico.

The Viola did make a bright start and came close to reducing their deficit with Gonzalo Rodriguez’s header was brilliantly saved by Sergio Rico.

But their task became even harder on 22 minutes when they failed to clear Ever Banega’s free-kick and Bacca lashed the ball in from a yard out.

And Los Rojiblancos doubled their lead five minutes later when another Banega free-kick led to Coke’s cross being slotted in from close range by Carrico.

The home side continued to carve out chances with Rico tipping over David Pizarro’s fizzing long-range effort while Mohamed Salah curled his shot wide after a good run.

But the Spanish side should have gone three nil ahead when Coke ran onto a flick on but lashed the ball over with the goal at his mercy.

It was a similar story in the second half with Rico continuing to thwart the home side after saving Salah’s low drive.

Fiorentina’s night was summed up by them being awarded a penalty when Grzegorz  Kolodiejczak tripped Pizarro, but Josip Ilicic blasted his spot-kick over the bar.

And Sevilla kept a clean sheet to seal their place in the final on May 27th in Warsaw where they will face Dnipro.

15’ – GREAT SAVE! Rodriguez's glancing header is beaten away by the keeper following a corner to the near post.

22’ - GOAL! Fiorentina 0-1 Sevilla. From a low free-kick from Banega, Bacca stabs it into the roof of the net from a yard out after the Viola fail to clear.

27’ - GOAL!Fiorentina 0-2 Sevilla. From another free-kick, a cross on the volley from Coke finds Carrico who tucks the ball into the net from close range to make it 2-0. Easy as you like..

39’ – MISS! What a chance for Coke! He times his run perfectly to meet a flick-on but stabs his effort over the bar, he really should have found the target. More schoolboy defending from the Viola who failed to deal with another cross into the box.

52’ – RICO SAVE! Another fine stop from Rico to keep out Salah's low drive, the keeper has been brilliant tonight.

66’ – MISSED PENALTY! Penalty to Fiorentina which Ilicic will take after Pizarro is brought down in the box. But the Slovenian whacks his spot-kick over the bar!

79’ – FINE SAVE! Rico denies Ilicic with a brilliant David De Gea-like save to block the ball with his palm after coming off his line.

Sevilla have reached the final of the EL/Uefa Cup for the 4th time (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015). They've won their previous 3 finals.

Should Sevilla win the Europa League final they will be the first team to have four EL/Uefa Cup titles

Stats courtesy of Opta / Infostrada

Why was Mario Gomez an unused substitute? Your team is 3-0 down from the first leg and you find yourself on the bench. Vincenzo Montella chose to start with no recognised striker in the side. And as Sevilla’s advantage got bigger he decided against bringing on the German striker, who has scored ten goals this season and netted in the last round against Dynamo Kiev. Baffling tactics from the Viola boss.

Sergio Rico (Sevilla): The Spanish side’s attackers will get the headlines for their finishing over two legs, but Rico made a string of world class saves. His stops to keep out Josip Ilicic’s effort and Gonzalo Rodriguez’s header were world class. Fiorentina never looked like scoring against the keeper in the vein of form he is in.

Fiorentina: Neto 5, Rodriguez 5, Savic 4, Basanta 4, Alonso 5, Pizarro 6, Fernandez 6, Joaquin 5, Valero 6, Ilicic 4, Salah 6. Subs: Lazarri 4, Badelj 4, Pasqual 6.

Sevilla: Rico 9, Tremoulinas 5, Carrico 7, Kolodiejczak 5, Coke 6, Krychowaik 5, Banega 7, Vitolo 6, Vidal 7, Mbia 5, Bacca 7. Subs: Reyes 4, Iborra 4, Gameiro 5.