SV Hamburg and Atletico Madrid face English pair in semi-finals

Liverpool and Fulham restored English pride in European football when they qualified to the semi final stages of the Europa League, joining Atletico Madrid and SV Hamburg.

Roy Hodgson’s Fulham continued with their stunning run in Europe beating German champions Wolfsburg to qualify 3-1 on aggregate.

Bobby Zamora scored Fulham’s winner inside the first minute. Fulham will now face another German side in the semis, SV Hamburg who beat Standard Liege yesterday to pass through 5-2 on aggregate.

Petric scored a brace and Guerrero scored a late third goal for Hamburg, with Camargo obtaining a temporary equaliser for Standard.

At Anfield Liverpool crushed Benfica with a splendid performance to qualify 5-3 on aggregate.

Kuyt put the Reds ahead and Lucas doubled in the first half. Torres scored a brace in the second half to seal the issue after Cardozo had given Benfica a ray of light.

Liverpool will now face Atletico Madrid who eliminated Valencia with the away goals in the Spanish derby, following yesterday’s scoreless draw.