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Villarreal strike late against Liverpool, Sevilla draw at Shakhtar

Football Soccer - Villarreal v Liverpool - UEFA Europa League Semi Final First Leg - El Madrigal Stadium, Villarreal, Spain - 28/4/16 Liverpool's Alberto Moreno in action with Villarreal's Denis Suarez Reuters / Albert Gea Livepic

By Toby Davis

LONDON (Reuters) - Villarreal's Adrian Lopez snatched a stoppage-time winner at home to Liverpool to move them closer to a first European final after the first leg of their Europa League last four clash finished 1-0 on Thursday.

Liverpool, who got a taste of their own medicine having scored deep in added time to knock out Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals, looked comfortable before Denis Suarez broke into the box and unselfishly squared for Lopez to sweep home.

In the other semi-final, holders Sevilla had their fingers briefly loosened from the trophy before grabbing a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk that left them well-placed to progress.

Sevilla's bid to become the first side to lift the trophy three years running got off to a great start when they opened the scoring through Vitolo after six minutes.

Shakhtar produced a spirited response, though, with goals from Marlos and Taras Stepanenko to lead at halftime before Kevin Gameiro's 82nd-minute penalty left the Spaniards favourites to progress with two away goals.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; editing by Ken Ferris)

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