TheCable

Atlético Madrid won 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium against Arsenal to qualify for the Europa League final thanks to a Diego Costa strike just before half time.

Coach Diego Simeone served his touchline ban at a stadium where his team has not conceded in 11 matches, and they duly dominated on chances created in the match.

It was despair for Arsenal, who had to score to have any chance of qualification, in their bid to give outgoing coach Wenger an European Cup farewell. Their chance of keeping Atlético at bay was dealt a huge blow by captain Lorient Koscielny’s potential long-term injury in the 12th minute.

Atlético capitalized to create a flurry of chances, with Antoine Griezmann missing two good opportunities to put the home team ahead, but his strikes were inches wide.

Former Chelsea striker, Diego Costa, is known for his scoring exploits against Arsenal and he delivered the opening goal in first half added time. The Brazilian-born Spanish international striker was set up by Griezmann’s pass into space, and the 29-year old brushed off the challenge of Bellerin before burying his strike beyond Ospina.

Arsenal, dominating from the restart, created the first opportunity of the second half, Xhaka’s long range strike was scrambled away by Oblak. Minutes later, Griezmann’s goal-bound effort was blocked by Chambers, while substitute Mkhtaryan could only shoot onto the roof of the net.

Atlético Madrid dominated the latter stages of the match, Ospina saving well from Griezmann following Chambers’ howler, and the Spaniards comfortably saw out the added minutes to qualify 2-1 on aggregate.

The 2012 Europa League winners will meet France’s Olympic Marseille who needed extra time to defeat Austrian surprise package, Red Bull Salzburg in the second semi final. With the incentive of playing the final to be staged at rival, Olympic Lyon’s stadium, L’OM scored the heartbreaking goal four minutes to the end of extra time after Salzburg had canceled out Marseille’s two-goal first leg advantage with a 2-0 win in regulation time.

Captain and talisman, Dimitri Payet delivered the corner kick for veteran portuguese defender, Rolando, on as an extra time substitute, to side foot home the winner.

Atlético Madrid and Marseille will contest the Europa League final on 16 May at Parc Olympic Lyonnais in Lyon, France.