Dundalk battle to earn historic point- Europa League Roundup
The UEFA Europa League returned tonight with all 48 teams in action right across Europe. Here’s a full roundup of all the action.
Group A
Feyenoord 1-0 Manchester United
Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United were defeated by Dutch outfit Feyenoord this evening. The home side broke the stalemate in the 79th minute when Tony Vilhena beat David De Gea in the United goal.United couldn’t reply and leave the Netherlands empty-handed.
Zorya 1-1 Fenerbahce
It was an action packed second half in the Ukraine this evening as Zorya moved in front of the visiting Fenerbahce in the 52nd minute thanks to Dmytro Grechyshkin. The home side were left heartbroken when Simon Kajer fired home the equaliser for the Turkish side in the 96th minute.
Group B
APOEL Nicosia 2-1 FC Astana
Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia pulled off a second half comeback to tale all three points from the visiting Astana. The Kazakhstani side had moved in front on the stroke of half time through Nemanja Maksimovic. APOEL rallied after the break and drew level in the 72nd minute through Vinicius. Three minutes from time the home crowd were celebrating as Igor de Camargo secured all three points.
Young Boys 0-1 Olympiacos
Swiss side Young Boys suffered an opening day defeat at home to Greek Champions Olympiacos. The winning goal came in the 42nd minute through veteran Argentinian Esteban Cambiasso who previously played for Inter Milan. The second half failed to produce any more goals meaning Olympicos take all three points.
Group C
Anderlecht 3-1 FK Qabala
Anderlecht overcame the challenge of Qabala this evening to secure an opening day win.The Belgian side took the lead in the 14th minute through Lukasz Teodorczyk. The Azerbaijani champions drew level six minutes later thanks to Bagaly Dabo. All the visitors hard work was undone in the 41st minute when Rafael Santos scored an own goal. Anderlecht were once again in the ascendancy and Diego Capel’s 78th minute strike secured all three points for the home side.
Mainz 05 1-1 Saint-Etienne
German side Mainz played host to France’s Saint-Etienne this evening. The home side took the lead in the 57th minute through Niko Bungert. The Ligue 1 side however didn’t lose hope and in the 88th minute Robert Beric found the back of the net to secure a point for Les Verts.
Group D
AZ Alkmaar 1-1 Dundalk
AZ Alkmaar played host to Irish side Dundalk this evening. The side went ahead on the hour mark when Stijn Wuytens fired home. Things got worse for the Lilywhites in the 71st minute when Stephen O’Donnell was sent off for his second yellow card offence. Despite being reduced to 10 men Dundalk continued to fight and Ciaran Kilduff scored what could yet be a famous goal in the 89th minute to earn a point for the visitors.
Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-4 Zeit St.Petersburg
Maccabi Tel Aviv threw away a three goal lead at home to Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg. The Israeli’s took the lead in the 26th minute through Haris Medunjanin. Five minutes after the break they were two up thanks to Kjartansson’s strike. Medunjanin scored his second of the night in the 70th minute. Zenit then produced an incredible comeback. They reduced the deficit to two with 76 minutes played when Aleksandr Kokorin fired home. Maccabi’s Eliazer Dasa then picked up two yellow cards in three minutes to reduce his side to ten men. Robert Mak then scored Zenit’s second in the 84th minute. Two minutes later the sides were level through Giuliano. Zenit then snatched all three points in the 90th minute when Luka Djordjevic scored.
Group E
Astra Giurgiu 2-3 Austria Wein
Austria Wein recorded an away victory this evening in over Romania’s Astra Giurgiu. Raphael Holzhauser put Wein ahead from the penalty spot with 16 minutes gone. Two minutes later Denis Alibec brought the home side level.Friesenbichler’s 33rd minute goal was enough to see the Austrian’s take the advantage into the break. On the hour mark Alexander Gruenwald moved Wein two ahead. Cristian Sapunaru reduced the deficit with 15 minutes to go. Despite being reduced to ten men when Rotpuller was sent off Austria held on to take all three points.
Viktoria Plzen 1-1 AS Roma
Italian’s AS Roma were held to a one all draw in the Czech Republic this evening. The Serie A outfit took the lead from a spot kick on 4 minutes with Diego Perotti converting. The home side replied seven minutes later through Marek Bakos. Nothing could separate the sides so they take a point each.
Group F
Rapid Wein 3-2 Genk
Austrian’s Rapid Wein played out a humdinger of a game this evening coming out on top over their Belgian visitors.Leon Bailey put Genk ahead in the 30th minute. Six minutes into the second half Stefan Schwab leveled the sides. On the hour mark Wein were in the lead thanks to Joelinton. Omar Colley directed the ball into his own net gifting Rapid a third. Bailey pegged one back through a 90th minute penalty but the damage was done.
Sassuolo 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
Italian’s Sassuolo displayed a second half masterclass to defeat La Liga’s Athletic Bilbo. Pol Lirola but the home side in front on the hour mark. Gregory Defrel made it two nil in the 75th minute and the scoring was completed in the 82nd minute when Matteo Politano fired home.
Group G
Panathinaikos 1-2 Ajax
Marcus Berg’s 6th minute strike put Greek side Panathinaikos ahead against Ajax. However Bertrand Traore scored for the visitors in the 34th minute. Davy Klassen missed a penalty for Ajax in the 66th minute but the Dutch side took the lead a minute later through Jairo Riedewald. The Greek side lost Ivan Ivanovic when he picked up a second yellow in the 69th minute. Ten minutes later Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech was also dismissed receiving his second yellow card.
Standard Leige 1-1 Celta Vigo
Belgian side Standard Leige got off to a fantastic start this evening when Mathieu Dossevi fired them in front with 4 minuets played. Their Spanish visitors drew level through Giuseppe Rossi with 13 minutes played.
Group H
Braga 1-1 Gent
Braga played host to Belgian side Gent this evening. The Portuguese outfit fell behind in the 6th minute when Danijel Milicevic scored for the visitors. Andre Pinto leveled the game with 24 minutes gone.Neither side could find a winner so they share the spoils.
Konyaspor 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Shakhtar Donetsk’s trip to Turkey was a successful one this evening. The Ukrainian powerhouse took the lead in the 76th minute through Facudo Ferreyra and held on to take all three points.
Group I
Nice 0-1 Schalke 04
A Mario Balotelli lead Nice side failed to defeat Bundesliga outfit Schalke this evening. The German visitors took the lead in the 75th minute through Abdul Rahman Baba and that goal was enough to seal the three points.
Salzburg 0-1 FC Krasnodar
Ten man Russian side FC Krasnodar battled to victory over their Austrian hosts this evening. Joaozinho gave the visitors the lead in the 37th minute. Krasnodar’s Sergei Petrov was sent for an early shower in the 71st minute when he picked up his second yellow of the night. His teammates held on to take all three points.
Group J
Qarabag FK 2-2 Slovan Liberec
Azerbaijani side Qarabag came from behind twice to draw at home to Czech visitors Slovan Liberec. Jan Sykora fired the visitors ahead inside the opening minute however Michel tied the game with seven minutes plated. Milan Baros put Slovan back ahead in the 66th minute . A 90th minute goal from Rashad Farhad Sadygov rescued a point for the hosts.
PAOK Thessaloniki FC 0-0 Fiorentina
Greek side PAOK and Serie A outfit Fiorentina played out the only goalless draw of the evening.
Group K
Inter Milan 0-2 Hapoel Beer Sheva
Inter Milan slumped to a shocking home defeat this evening at the hands of Israeli opposition. Miguel Vitor fired Hapoel ahead in the 54th minute and Maor Bar Buzaglo extended their advantage in the 69th minute.
Southampton 3-0 Sparta Prague
Southampton got their Europa League campaign off to a flying start this evening. The Saints took the lead through a Charlie Austin penalty with 6 minutes played. Austin was on hand to score his second of the night in the 27th minute that put victory beyond their Czech visitors. Jay Rodriguez tagged on a late goal to compound Sparta’s misery.
Group L
Osmanlispor KF 2-0 Steaua Bucuresti
Turksh side Osmanlispor were comfortable winners over Romanian opposition Steaua Bucuresti this evening. The visitors were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half time when Gabriel Enache received a second yellow card. Cheick Diabate put the home side ahead from the penalty spot with 64 minutes played. Ten minute later they were two up thanks to Aminu Umar.
Villarreal 2-1 FC Zürich
Armando Sadiku got Zürich off to the dream start as they visited La Liga side Villarreal this evening. Sadiku fired Zürich ahead in just the second minute. However Alexandre Pato leveled the side in the 28th minute. Jonathan dos Santos fired home the winner just before half time earring the Spaniards all three points.
