Chelsea booked their place in a second European Final in as many years against Benfica after Fernando Torres inspired the Blues to an emphatic aggregate win over FC Basel in the Europa League at Stamford Bridge.

Mohamed Salah put the Swiss league leaders ahead on the night on the stroke of half-time, but three goals in nine second half minutes sent Rafa Benitez's side through.

Torres reacted first after Yann Sommer spilled Frank Lampard's miss-hit volley, before the Spaniard's own skewed effort fell the way of Victor Moses, who tucked home.

And David Luiz put the gloss on a fine performance in the second half with a beautifully struck third after Lampard's pass to leave Chelsea on the brink of history as they look to become the first team to win the Champions League and Europa League in consecutive years.

Fernando Torres
Torres scored one and made another to help Chelsea through to the final.

The west Londoners can also become the fifth side, alongside Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Juventus to claim the triple crown of European trophies having already won the European Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup.

Benitez, who has been widely criticised by Chelsea supporters since his appointment as interim boss in November, made five changes from the weekend win over Swansea City as his side sought to protect a 2-1 lead from the first leg, but Lampard captained the side as he went in search of Bobby Tambling all-time goalscroing record.

But the away side, who had knocked out Tottenham Hotspur in the quarter final on penalties, started the better and went ahead in added on time at the end of the first half as Marco Streller played in Salah, who ghosted in behind Gary Cahill and curled low beyond Petr Cech.

However, the goal only worked to inspire the Champions League winners to a second-half revival.

After Lampard thumped goalwards, Sommer could only fumble, allowing Torres to power into the roof of the net from the re-bound for his 20<sup>th goal of a season during which he has been the source of much criticism.

The ex-Liverpool forward could have had his second but his miss-hit shot fell the way of Moses, who broke away from Fabian Schar to tuck into the corner.

And if Chelsea's opening two goals were scrappy, then Luiz's strike on the hour mark was an example of the style which accompanies this side, with the Brazilian curling into the top corner with Sommer motionless to propell Chelsea in another European final.