Chelsea reaches Europa League semifinals despite loss

Chelsea stumbled into the semifinals of the Europa League despite losing to Rubin Kazan on Thursday, while Basel beat Tottenham in a penalty shootout to also

Fernando Torres (left) scored in the fifth minute for Chelsea :: Misha Japaridze/AP

Chelsea stumbled into the semifinals of the Europa League despite losing to Rubin Kazan on Thursday, while Basel beat Tottenham in a penalty shootout to also reach the last four.

Fenerbahce and Benfica were the other teams to advance in Europe's second-tier competition after holding on for 1-1 draws at Lazio and Newcastle in their quarterfinal second legs.

Chelsea, the reigning European champion, lost 3-2 in Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium - the scene of its defeat in the 2008 Champions League final - but progressed 5-4 on aggregate.

Tom Huddlestone and Emmanuel Adebayor failed with their spot kicks as Basel won the shootout 4-1, after a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes took the aggregate score to 4-4.

Basel and Fenerbahce qualified for their first European semifinals. The draw takes place Friday.