UEFA Europa League: Match Reports, Results And Table Standing
•United shone like a million stars as they thumped Feyenoord 4-0
Wayne Rooney inspired Manchester United to a vital win in Group A. Rooney scored to make club history before assisting Juan Mata's goal to help United see off Feyenoord 4-0 at Old Trafford.
It was time for much-maligned Rooney to offer a reminder of his quality. A delicate dink finish to put United ahead in the first half did just that.
The goal also gave Rooney a place to himself in the club's record books.
Rooney's always been prolific in front of goal, but an equally important part of his game has been an ability to create. And he turned keen provider to tee up Mata for United's second after the hour mark.
The numbers show United's No. 10 hasn't lost his knack for supply:
An own goal and a Jesse Lingard strike closed out United's night in style.
SOUTHAMPTON:
Southampton were beaten 1-0 by Sparta Prague at the Generali Arena in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. A first-half goal from defender Costa Nhamoinesu was all it took to down a Southampton side lacking in creativity and quality in attack.
The result means the Saints will have to beat or at least draw 0-0 at home against Hapoel Be'er Sheva at St Mary's Stadium in their final Group K match to qualify.
Hapoel, themselves, came back from two down to shock Inter Milan 3-2 at the Turner Stadium. It means Inter are out of the competition after setting an unwanted first in club history.
The Saints only needed to better Hapoel Be'er Sheva's result in Group K but made things hard for themselves once Costa had given Sparta a first-half lead. The Zimbabwe defender tucked in a finish from close range to pile the pressure on Southampton in the Czech capital.
However, Saints chief Claude Puel had picked a strong starting XI loaded with quality in attacking areas. Puel needed more from pacy duo Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez, though.
The Saints had controlled proceedings, but struggles up front meant they went in trailing at the break
Southampton failed to have a single shot on target in the second half vs. Sparta Prague.
Lacking quality in the final third, only an errant header from Virgil van Dijk was the closest they came to finding an equaliser.
Sadly, the centre-back headed over when he should have scored.
INTER
Elsewhere in the group, Inter Milan were flexing their own attacking muscle against Hapoel, as Mauro Icardi and Marcelo Brozovic both netted in the opening 25 minutes.
Striker Icardi just loves this competition, as the tournament's official Twitter account noted:
Icardi deftly turned in a smart cross from crafty forward Eder. The 30-year-old Italy international has become quite a source of supply for Inter this season:
However, Inter haven't found it easy to hold leads and stay tight at the back during this campaign. Those same problems were evident when Lucio Maranhao got one back for Hapoel before Anthony Nwakaeme equalised from the spot.
ROMA
Like United, Roma scored four in a stylish win over Viktoria Plzen in Group E. The Italian outfit were inspired by former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, who helped himself to a rare hat-trick:
Roma's other goal came courtesy of a spectacular rabona flick from Diego Perotti. The impish moment of skill provided the highlight of an impressive display from the group leaders.
BILBAO
While United and Roma were making their moves, Athletic Bilbao were surviving a thriller against Sassuolo in Group F. As they often do, the Basque side found inspiration from a familiar source.
Ageing but still prolific striker Aritz Aduriz scored to put Bilbao 2-1 ahead of their Serie A opponents. Inigo Lekue scored Athletic's third before Antonino Ragusa ensured a nervy finish by bagging Sassuolo's second.
Bilbao hung on, though, and are now level on points at the top of the group.
CELTIC
In Group G, Celta Vigo kept on pace to qualify thanks to Iago Aspas. The former Liverpool forward scored after just eight minutes to stun Standard Liege in Spain.
Aspas has been in fine scoring form this season:
SEE ALL MATCH RESULTS BELOW.
UEFA Europa League
Match Results
Here are the updated standings:
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Fenerbahce | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 |
| 3 | Feyenoord | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 7 |
| 4 | FC Zorya | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | -4 | 2 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Apoel | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| 2 | Olympiakos | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
| 3 | Young Boys | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | FC Astana | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -3 | 5 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Anderlecht | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| 2 | Saint Etienne | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 3 | Mainz | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -4 | 6 |
| 4 | Gabala | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | -7 | 0 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Zenit | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 15 |
| 2 | AZ Alkmaar | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -5 | 5 |
| 3 | Dundalk | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Maccabi Tel-Aviv | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 4 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | AS Roma | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 11 |
| 2 | Astra | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -3 | 7 |
| 3 | Austria Vienna | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 5 |
| 4 | Viktoria Plzen | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | -4 | 3 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Genk | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Athletic Bilbao | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 9 |
| 3 | Rapid Vienna | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -1 | 5 |
| 4 | Sassuolo | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Ajax | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| 2 | Standard Liege | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 | Celta Vigo | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | Panathinaikos | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -8 | 1 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 15 |
| 2 | Braga | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | Gent | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -5 | 5 |
| 4 | Konyaspor | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -9 | 1 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Schalke 04 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 |
| 2 | Krasnodar | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 3 | Salzburg | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 4 |
| 4 | Nice | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -7 | 3 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Fiorentina | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 10 |
| 2 | Qarabag | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 7 |
| 3 | PAOK | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 7 |
| 4 | Slovan Liberec | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -3 | 4 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Sparta Prague | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| 2 | Hapoel Be'er Sheva | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | Southampton | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | Inter Milan | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -5 | 3 |
UEFA.com
| Position | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points |
| 1 | Osmanlispor | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 2 | Steaua Bucharest | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | -1 | 6 |
| 3 | Zurich | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 4 | Villarreal | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
UEFA.com
.
0 Comments