MARSEILLE--Feyenoord Rotterdam will face AS Roma in the Europa Conference League final after they drew 0-0 with Olympique Marseille in a close game in the south of France on Thursday. Feyenoord progressed 3-2 on aggregate.
After the 3-2 win in Rotterdam last week, Feyenoord were looking to book their place in a European final for the first time in 20 years.
Olympique Marseille were frustrated by Feyenoord in the early stages of the game and their night took a turn for the worse after half an hour when star player Dmitri Payet had to be replaced. After that, Feyenoord had chances to open the game by scoring a goal, but Guus Til and Cyriel Dessers saw their efforts blocked.
Valentin Rongier should have given Marseille the lead early in the second half, but from close range he could only shoot straight at Feyenoord goalkeeper Ofir Marciano. At the other end, defender Gernot Trauner shot the ball over the bar from a corner.
Olympique Marseille pushed for a late winner but they could not find a way through the Feyenoord wall. The Dutch side defended brilliantly and even though they could not threaten the hosts, Feyenoord held on for a draw.
Feyenoord now progresses to the final, in which they will face AS Roma. The clash takes place in the Albanian capital Tirana on May 25. The winners will automatically qualify for the 2022/2023 Europa League group stage, unless they reach the Champions League pool stages next season.
Tammy Abraham’s first-half header earned Italian Serie A side AS Roma a place in the final of the inaugural Europa Conference League against Feyenoord. Roma edged Leicester City 1-0 to win their tie 2-1 on aggregate.
There was little to choose between the sides at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, where the decisive goal came on 11 minutes as Leicester’s frailties this season were exposed again. Lorenzo Pellegrini’s corner was met by the head of England international Abraham, who guided the ball into the net.
It took Leicester 78 minutes to have a first shot on target as they battled to create clear-cut chances against the well-organised home side, who reached their first European final since losing to compatriots Inter Milan in the 1991 UEFA Cup.
The second leg of the semi-final between Marseille and Feyenoord was marred by fan violence in the build-up as supporters from both sides clashed with each other and police, while a brick was thrown at the visitors’ team bus.
The first leg had been a five-goal thriller, but this was more of a cagey affair with the best chance of the first half falling to Marseille’s Dimitri Payet, who sliced a shot wide when he should have scored.
Marseille pressed for the goal they needed to equalise on aggregate, but Feyenoord held on to reach their first European final since they lifted the UEFA Cup for the second time in 2002.
