In a thrilling display of football prowess, Arsenal secured their place in the UEFA Europa League semifinals after an intense 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow at the VEB Arena on Thursday. Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi and Ahmed Musa were key contributors to the Gunners’ success in a match that showcased the resilience of the English side.
Despite a 2-0 lead by CSKA Moscow, with goals from Fedor Chalov and Kiril Nababkin, Arsenal mounted a remarkable comeback with strikes from Danny Welbeck and Aaron Ramsey. The Gunners, having won the first leg 4-1, sailed through to the next stage with a commanding 6-3 aggregate victory.
Musa, deployed as a center forward for the entire game by CSKA, and Iwobi, who entered the field in the 75th minute in place of Alexander Lacazette, exhibited exceptional skill and determination in the quarter-final clash.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, led by Diego Simeone, secured their spot in the semifinals despite a 1-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon. The aggregate score favored the Spanish club at 2-1. In another captivating match at the Stade Velodrome, Olympic Marseille orchestrated a stunning turnaround, thrashing RB Leipzig 5-2 after overcoming a 1-0 deficit from the first leg.
The night’s biggest winners, Red Bull Salzburg from Austria, showcased an impressive performance by beating Lazio 4-1, canceling out their 4-2 first-leg defeat. Salzburg’s 6-5 aggregate triumph solidified their place in the semifinals, adding another layer of excitement to an already dramatic Europa League campaign.
