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Marseille’s Dimitri Payet scores their fourth goal against RB Leipzig.
Marseille’s Dimitri Payet scores their fourth goal against RB Leipzig. Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters
Marseille’s Dimitri Payet scores their fourth goal against RB Leipzig. Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

Europa League: Dimitri Payet fires Marseille comeback against Leipzig

This article is more than 6 years old
Salzburg also overturn first-leg deficit to knock out Lazio
Favourites Atlético Madrid through despite defeat in Lisbon

Marseille advanced to the Europa League semi-finals after overturning a first-leg deficit to defeat RB Leipzig 5-3 on aggregate.

Leipzig held a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Germany and they got a crucial away goal through Bruma just 64 seconds into the second leg. Yet the tie was soon level as Stefan Ilsanker scored an own goal and Bouna Sarr added a second before Florian Thauvin’s effort gave Marseille an aggregate lead before half-time. Leipzig hit back through Jean-Kévin Augustin, and at that point they would have progressed on away goals, only for the former West Ham winger Dimitri Payet and Hiroki Sakai to score and make sure of Marseille’s progress via a 5-3 aggregate success.

Red Bull Salzburg scored four times in 20 minutes to stun Lazio and make it through to the last four. Trailing 4-2 from the first leg in Rome last week, Salzburg then went further behind when Ciro Immobile scored his 39th goal of the season for Lazio 10 minutes into the second half. However, the hosts rallied as Munas Dabbur, Amadou Haidara, Hwang Hee‑chan and Stefan Lainer all scored in quick succession to earn Salzburg a 6-5 aggregate success.

Salzburg players celebrate after the final whistle, having sealed a semi-final place in dramatic fashion. Photograph: Leonhard Foeger/Reuters

The tournament favourites Atlético Madrid also advanced to the final four, despite a 1-0 defeat against Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. The Colombian Fredy Montero’s header from a far-post cross in the first half gave Sporting some hope against a team that had won 13 of their previous 15 contests in all competitions. Antoine Griezmann squandered two great opportunities in the second half to ease Atletico’s nerves, yet they were able to hang on anyway and won 2-1 across the two legs.

Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal also made it through, though they were made to sweat in Russia after going 2-0 down to CSKA Moscow before securing a 2-2 draw to win 6-3 on aggregate.

The Gunners had a 4-1 lead from the first leg yet CSKA’s away goal in north London looked like it might be pivotal when Fedor Chalov and Kirill Nababkin both reacted quickest to Petr Cech parries to score.

However, 15 minutes from time Danny Welbeck netted his 10th goal of the season for Arsenal when he cut in off the left flank and finished via a one-two with Mohamed Elneny. The Egyptian Elneny then set up Aaron Ramsey to score in stoppage time as Arsenal’s unbeaten streak was extended to a seventh game.

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