Incredible Leverkusen comeback seals spot in final
Bayer Leverkusen staged a stunning late comeback to move into the Europa League final with a 2-2 draw at home against AS Roma as it won 4-2 on aggregate and set the longest unbeaten run in all competitions including European matches.
Bundesliga champion Leverkusen, which has also reached this month's German Cup final as it chases a treble, played its 49th match without defeat to surpass Benfica's record set from 1963–1965 but it had to battle for the second leg draw.
Xabi Alonso's side, which has 40 wins in its unbeaten run, will face Italian side Atalanta in the 22 May final in Dublin.
It will be a third European final for Leverkusen, which won its only continental title when it lifted the UEFA Cup in 1988 and lost in the 2002 Champions League showpiece.
Roma knew it had a mountain to climb after losing the first leg 2-0 at home but it remained composed in an evenly contested match in which Leverkusen gradually seized control.
Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios struck the post just before halftime, with the rebound deflecting off Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar's back, but Evan Ndicka cleared the danger.
Svilar then made another acrobatic save just before the break, denying Amine Adli and then blocking the rebound.
Despite Leverkusen's pressure Roma took the lead with a penalty from Leandro Paredes just before halftime after Jonathan Tah fouled Sardar Azmoun. Paredes scored with another spot kick in the 66th minute after Adam Hlozek handled.
With eight minutes remaining, a Leverkusen corner confused the visiting defence, including the until then excellent Svilar, leading to defender Gianluca Mancini inadvertently deflecting the ball into his own net at the far post.
Late substitute Joseph Stanisic then secured Leverkusen's place in the record books deep into stoppage time with the equaliser after a skilful move into the box to delight the ecstatic home fans and leave battling Roma distraught.
