Chelsea reached the Europa League semi-finals despite losing 3-2 at Rubin Kazan yesterday as they progressed 5-4 on aggregate following a second-half goal rush on the artificial pitch at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.

But there was no luck for fellow English side Newcastle who were held to a 1-1 draw by Benfica at St James’ Park as the Portuguese progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

Italy’s interest in UEFA club competitions also came to an end last night when Lazio could only manage a 1-1 draw against Turkey’s Fenerbahce to bow out 3-1 on aggregate.

In Russia, forwards Fernando Torres and Victor Moses struck early in each half to see Chelsea through to the last four despite a valiant effort from Rubin who scored through Ivan Marcano, Goekdeniz Karadeniz and Bebars Natcho after the break.

Chelsea, returning to the scene of their 2008 Champions League final defeat by Manchester United, took the lead after seven minutes when Torres lobbed keeper Sergei Ryzhikov from 30 metres after a fine through ball from Frank Lampard .

The European champions were completely on top in the first half but keeper Petr Cech had to make a reflex save on the stroke of half-time to deny midfielder Natcho from eight metres.

Rubin took the game to Chelsea after the break and levelled when Marcano headed in a right-wing cross after 51 minutes.

Moses restored the London club’s lead following a neat one-two on the edge of the box with Ramires before Rubin scored twice late on.

Goekdeniz Karadeniz made it 2-2 on the night with another close-range header before the Russian side converted a 75th-minute penalty through Natcho after Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have pushed Aleksandr Ryazantsev.

In Rome, Fenerbahce held off a determined Lazio to progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League in the eerie surrounds of a virtually empty Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio, serving the second of a two-game stadium ban, may not have had their fans to cheer them on but for 70 minutes they put up a determined fight to overcome the first-leg deficit, and Senad Lulic’s goal just after the hour mark gave them hope.

But as they piled forward in search of a second, Caner Erkin’s powerful equaliser ended Italian hopes and put Fener into the final four of a European competition for the first time.

Eduardo Salvio ended New-castle’s hopes of continuing their European adventure as Benfica struck deep into injury time to prevent another late show.

The Magpies were leading 1-0 on the night and pushing for the second goal which would have booked them a semi-final place when the midfielder slid home substitute Rodrigo’s low cross to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Papiss Cisse, who had earlier seen two efforts ruled out for offside, had set up a grandstand finish with a 71st-minute header, his fifth goal in seven games.

However, when the decisive moment came, it was at the wrong end for the home side.

Spurs eliminated

Basel produced the shock of the night when they ousted Tottenham 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the tie was level 4-4 on aggregate following a 2-2 draw in Switzerland.

Clint Dempsey put Spurs ahead after four minutes but goals from Mohamed Salas (27) and Alek-sandar Dragovic (49) put the hosts on the verge of a major scalp.

But Dempsey saved Spurs with an equaliser four minutes from time to send the tie to extra-time.

In the shoot-out, Basel goal-keeper Yann Sommer saved Tom Huddlestone’s penalty while Emanuel Adebayor blazed his shot over to put the Swiss side into the semi-finals and end Tottenham’s hopes of silverware this season.