Chelsea reached the Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3 in a roller-coaster game on Thursday, helped by a Pedro brace in a first-half onslaught before withstanding a comeback bid by the Czechs after the break.

Chelsea, who will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four, were cruising 4-1 at halftime but Slavia's Petr Sevcik slammed home two strikes early in the second half, narrowing the aggregate score to 5-3.

With the Stamford Bridge crowd increasingly unsettled, and Slavia being roared on by their travelling fans, Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further.

But Chelsea, having won the first leg 1-0, held on to set up a semi against Eintracht, who beat visiting Benfica 2-0 to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

A Chelsea triumph in the Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would secure a way back into the prestigious Champions League if they finish outside Premier League top four this season. They currently sit fifth in the table.

There was little hint of the tension to come when Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar after exchanging passes with Cesar Azpilicueta and Olivier Giroud in the fifth.

The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound off Simon Deli's face for an own goal.

It was Pedro who carved out Chelsea's third when he squared for a simple finish by Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea's fourth in the 27th minute when he converted a rebound after Kolar saved from Giroud.

A minute earlier, Slavia's captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer when he powered in a header from a corner, leaving the door open for the visitors' improbable attempt to turn the game around.

Familiar problem

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri said he had to get to the bottom of the familiar problem of his side losing their way in the second half of matches.

On Sunday, Chelsea conceded two goals shortly after the break in a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Premier League, a pattern seen in other games.

"As usual in the last two months we started very badly in the second half," Sarri told reporters. "It's a big problem... We need a solution, we need to solve this problem."

Sarri, who has never won a major final as a coach, said he was determined to see his side triumph this time.

"For me, I think it is very important first of all to get to the final, but this time I don't want to just get to the final, I want to win the final," he said.

Slavia coach Jindrich Trpisovsky lamented his side's defensive performance in the opening 45 minutes.

"If we had managed the first half better, I think we could have gone through," he said. "Everyone says the English Premier League is the example to follow and that we cannot play against teams like this. But I think we showed today that we can."

Chelsea reached the Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3 in a roller-coaster game on Thursday, helped by a Pedro brace in a first-half onslaught before withstanding a comeback bid by the Czechs after the break.

Chelsea reached the Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3 in a roller-coaster game on Thursday, helped by a Pedro brace in a first-half onslaught before withstanding a comeback bid by the Czechs after the break. Chelsea, who will face Eintracht Frankfurt in the last four, were cruising 4-1 at halftime but Slavia's Petr Sevcik slammed home two strikes early in the second half, narrowing the aggregate score to 5-3. With the Stamford Bridge crowd increasingly unsettled, and Slavia being roared on by their travelling fans, Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further. But Chelsea, having won the first leg 1-0, held on to set up a semi against Eintracht, who beat visiting Benfica 2-0 to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline. A Chelsea triumph in the Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would secure a way back into the prestigious Champions League if they finish outside Premier League top four this season. They currently sit fifth in the table. There was little hint of the tension to come when Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar after exchanging passes with Cesar Azpilicueta and Olivier Giroud in the fifth. The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound off Simon Deli's face for an own goal. It was Pedro who carved out Chelsea's third when he squared for a simple finish by Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea's fourth in the 27th minute when he converted a rebound after Kolar saved from Giroud. A minute earlier, Slavia's captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer when he powered in a header from a corner, leaving the door open for the visitors' improbable attempt to turn the game around. Familiar problem Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri said he had to get to the bottom of the familiar problem of his side losing their way in the second half of matches. On Sunday, Chelsea conceded two goals shortly after the break in a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Premier League, a pattern seen in other games. "As usual in the last two months we started very badly in the second half," Sarri told reporters. "It's a big problem... We need a solution, we need to solve this problem." Sarri, who has never won a major final as a coach, said he was determined to see his side triumph this time. "For me, I think it is very important first of all to get to the final, but this time I don't want to just get to the final, I want to win the final," he said. Slavia coach Jindrich Trpisovsky lamented his side's defensive performance in the opening 45 minutes. "If we had managed the first half better, I think we could have gone through," he said. "Everyone says the English Premier League is the example to follow and that we cannot play against teams like this. But I think we showed today that we can."

Europa League: Chelsea beat Slavia 4-3 to book Europa League semi

Outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was left with a 'bitter taste' after his side failed to beat an Atletico Madrid side which played for ten men for almost 80 minutes in their Europa League semi-final leg on Thursday.

Arsenal were given a huge boost after 10 minutes when Atletico defender Sime Vrsaljko was sent off for stamping on Alexandre Lacazette's foot, and Atletico coach Diego Simeone was sent to the stands for his furious reaction to the decision.

The Premier League side dominated possession but missed a number of clear chances, with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak making several fine saves before Lacazette broke the deadlock in the 61st minute.

The French forward headed Jack Wilshere's cross down into the corner of the net to give manager Arsene Wenger hope of winning a trophy in his last season at the club and taking his last chance to get the team back into the Champions League.

Atletico seized back the initiative in the 82nd minute, however, when Griezmann sped past Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, collected his rebounded shot off keeper David Ospina and calmly lifted the ball into the roof of the net.

"We come out tonight with a bitter taste," Wenger told reporters after the penultimate home game of his 22-year reign at Arsenal.

"You have to stay 1-0 up and after that everything is open," the Frenchman added. "We created the anticlimax by giving away the goal."

Wilshere also rued the missed chances for Arsenal, who are playing in their first European semi-final in nine years. Atletico have reached the Champions League final twice in the last four years and won the Europa League in 2010 and 2012.

The teams head to Madrid for the second leg next week when Atletico, second in Spain's La Liga, should be able to recall talismanic striker Diego Costa who scored three times against Arsenal in six games while he was at Chelsea.

Simeone praised the courage of his players.

"They are basically heroes," the Argentine said. "They stood firm for eighty-something minutes.

"The team responded to the red card with some fantastic defensive work and I think that will go down in the history of Atletico Madrid."

The Premier League side dominated possession but missed a number of clear chances, with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak making several fine saves before Lacazette broke the deadlock in the 61st minute

Outgoing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he was left with a 'bitter taste' after his side failed to beat an Atletico Madrid side which played for ten men for almost 80 minutes in their Europa League semi-final leg on Thursday. Arsenal were given a huge boost after 10 minutes when Atletico defender Sime Vrsaljko was sent off for stamping on Alexandre Lacazette's foot, and Atletico coach Diego Simeone was sent to the stands for his furious reaction to the decision. The Premier League side dominated possession but missed a number of clear chances, with Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak making several fine saves before Lacazette broke the deadlock in the 61st minute. The French forward headed Jack Wilshere's cross down into the corner of the net to give manager Arsene Wenger hope of winning a trophy in his last season at the club and taking his last chance to get the team back into the Champions League. Atletico seized back the initiative in the 82nd minute, however, when Griezmann sped past Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny, collected his rebounded shot off keeper David Ospina and calmly lifted the ball into the roof of the net. "We come out tonight with a bitter taste," Wenger told reporters after the penultimate home game of his 22-year reign at Arsenal. "You have to stay 1-0 up and after that everything is open," the Frenchman added. "We created the anticlimax by giving away the goal." Wilshere also rued the missed chances for Arsenal, who are playing in their first European semi-final in nine years. Atletico have reached the Champions League final twice in the last four years and won the Europa League in 2010 and 2012. The teams head to Madrid for the second leg next week when Atletico, second in Spain's La Liga, should be able to recall talismanic striker Diego Costa who scored three times against Arsenal in six games while he was at Chelsea. Simeone praised the courage of his players. "They are basically heroes," the Argentine said. "They stood firm for eighty-something minutes. "The team responded to the red card with some fantastic defensive work and I think that will go down in the history of Atletico Madrid."

Arsene Wenger's 'bitter taste' after Atletico Madrid draw, Simeone praises his 'heroes'

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Europa League: Chelsea beat Slavia 4-3 to book Europa League semi

Arsene Wenger's 'bitter taste' after Atletico Madrid draw, Simeone praises his 'heroes'