Betis and Celta eliminated in Europa League quarters, Rayo clings on in Conference

MADRID, April 16 (Xinhua) -- La Liga sides Real Betis and Celta Vigo both exited in the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals, while Rayo Vallecano held on to eliminate AEK Athens and reach the last four of the Conference League on Thursday.

After last week's 1-1 draw away to Sporting Braga, Betis had looked on course for the last four when Ez Abde set up Antony for the Seville side's opening goal.

When Abde made it 2-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate after just 26 minutes, Betis appeared to be in full control, but Pau Victor gave Sporting Braga hope in the 38th minute with an angled shot.

Vitor Carvalho made it 2-2 on the night early in the second half after a mistake from Betis goalkeeper Pau Lopez, and from there things went from bad to worse for the home side.

Ricardo Horta put the visitors ahead with a 53rd-minute penalty, and Jean-Baptiste Gorby added Braga's fourth of the night with a stunning 74th-minute volley to seal a 5-3 aggregate win.

Celta Vigo's hopes of overturning a 3-0 first-leg defeat to Freiburg were effectively over by halftime at Balaidos, as Igor Matanovic and Yuito Suzuki scored in the 33rd and 39th minutes respectively for the German side, before Suzuki added a third five minutes into the second half.

Williot Swedberg scored for Celta in the 91st minute, but Freiburg advanced comfortably with a 6-1 aggregate victory.

Rayo Vallecano traveled to Athens with a 3-0 lead from the first leg but was pushed back in the first half as AEK mounted a strong response.

Zini's left-footed shot put AEK ahead after 13 minutes, and Razvan Marin doubled the lead in the 36th minute.

Zini's second goal of the night in the 51st minute leveled the tie on aggregate, but Isi Palazon struck a crucial goal for Rayo on the hour to send the Madrid side through 4-3 on aggregate. ■