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Oscar Cardozo celebrates his winning goal for Benfica during the UEFA Europa League semifinal second leg against Fenerbahce SK at the Estadio da Luz on May 2, 2013 in Lisbon, Portugal. (GETTY)
Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo's double fired Benfica into a Europa League final with Chelsea after they beat Fenerbahce 3-1 in Lisbon to win their semifinal 3-2 on aggregate.
Benfica took just nine minutes to cancel out Fenerbahce's 1-0 lead from the first leg when Nicolas Gaitan clipped in Lima's low cross.
The Portuguese were stunned when Dirk Kuyt levelled midway through the half from the penalty spot after Ezequiel Garay handled, an away goal for Fenerbahce meaning the hosts needed to score at least twice more.
Cardozo's fine left-foot finish restored Benfica's lead on 35 minutes in a breathless first half and his decisive strike came on 66 with another crisp low shot from inside the area.
The final is in Amsterdam on May 15 when Benfica will have the chance to win their first European trophy since lifting the second of their successive European Cups in 1962.
Chelsea, last season's Champions League winners, beat FC Basel 3-1 at Stamford Bridge on Thursday to ease through 5-2.
Benfica, chasing a memorable treble consisting of a Portuguese league and cup double and the Europa League, were rewarded for their positive start when Gaitan, who was rested for the first leg, deftly finished with the outside of his left foot.
Fenerbahce had struggled to stem the early onslaught but got an unexpected gift when the ball struck Garay's arm as he tried to clear and Kuyt coolly converted from the spot.
Benfica were back in front 10 minutes before the break when a quickly taken free kick found Cardozo and the Paraguayan turned and fired past Volkan Demirel.
The game was held up for a few minutes early in the second half when Fenerbahce defender Gokhan Gonul needed lengthy treatment after he was caught in the face accidentally by a flailing leg from Gaitan. Gonul was carried off on a stretcher.
Cardozo put Benfica in the driving seat when Lusiao's shot fell into his path and the striker fired into the corner.
Since the Europa League was rebranded in 2009/10, only Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao, with 30, has scored more goals in the competition than Cardozo who has 19.
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