Struggling Everton crashed out of the Europa League group stage on
Thursday with two matches still to play after a 3-0 defeat in Lyon,
while AC Milan missed a chance to clinch a spot in the last 32.
Languishing in the relegation zone in the Premier League and without a
permanent manager since the sacking of Ronald Koeman last
week, Everton succumbed to three second-half goals in France.
Bertrand Traore rounded Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock on 68
minutes, with the Burkina Faso striker breaking down in tears just days
after the death of former international team-mate Soulama Abdoulaye.
The 37-year-old Abdoulaye died last week after a long illness. He won
42 caps for Burkina Faso and featured in the squad that reached the
2013 Africa Cup of Nations final.
An emotional Traore was replaced moments after scoring, as Memphis
Depay then set up 19-year-old Houssem Aouar to steer in a slick second
goal for the hosts on 76 minutes.
The former Manchester United winger completed the scoring himself
late on after another ex-United player, Morgan Schneiderlin, was sent
off for a second booking in the Group E clash.
Seven-time European champions AC Milan, in the midst of a poor run of
form in Serie A, failed to relieve much pressure on under-fire manager
Vincenzo Montella following a 0-0 draw at AEK Athens.
The Italians hit the post on 57 minutes through Riccardo Montolivo,
while Turkey midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu had a powerful drive turned
away as Milan remained two points clear of their Greek hosts in Group D.
Vitaliy Buyalskiy fired Dynamo Kiev into the knockout phase as
winners of Group B after the Ukrainian side secured a 1-0 victory over
Young Boys in Switzerland.
Villarreal are on course to advance from Group A after a 2-0 victory
at Slavia Prague, but Hoffenheim’s qualification hopes in Group C
suffered a costly blow as the Germans conceded a stoppage-time equaliser
in a 1-1 draw away to Istanbul Basaksehir.
Having made a perfect start to their Europa League campaign, Arsenal
can secure a place in the knockout phase with two group games to spare
by beating Red Star Belgrade later on Thursday.
The Gunners play host to the 1991 European Cup winners in north
London a fortnight after Olivier Giroud’s remarkable late goal secured a
1-0 win in Belgrade.
Surprise Swedish side Ostersund — coached by Englishman Graham Potter
— will extend their run in Europe into the New Year with the right
combination of results as they visit Athletic Bilbao.
No comments:
Post a Comment