Europa League News

Marc Janko led Porto defeat Vitória de Setúbal

John Davies — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 02:10:49 +0000

On the backs of Marc Janko’s continued goal scoring spree Porto continued its chase of top of the table Benfica with a reaffirming 3-1 victory over host Vitória de Setúbal at Estádio do Bonfim in match-day nineteen of the Liga Portuguesa. With the result Porto trails their bitter foes by three points with Benfica still to play Vitória de Guimarães on Monday.

Coming off their uncomfortable loss to Manchester City in the Europa League on Thursday, Porto manager Vítor Pereira was looking for a quick response and right on cue Marc Janko answered at the third minute to provide the Dragões they would not relinquish. Accepting a simple throw in on the right, João Moutinho moved to the right of the area before lofting a cross that the Austrian international headed powerful past goalkeeper Ricardo to give Porto the 1-0 lead. After the Setúbal ‘keeper made a sublime diving stop of João Moutinho’s booming drive, Porto doubled the margin at the twenty-sixth minute as Fernando latched onto Hulk’s through ball on the right channel before pounding it to the back of the net from ten metres.

Just shy of the hour, Mr. Pereira called upon Steven Defour for Lucho González, with Cristian Rodríguez and James Rodríguez for Hulk and João Moutinho ten minutes later. With chances sparse Setúbal made the most of what opportunities they were presented and with fifteen minutes remaining in regulation time Albert Meyong halved the deficit as his free-kick dipped over the wall and beyond the outstretched reach of ‘keeper before nestling in the back of the net. Porto wasted little time with their response as three minutes later from the left flank Alex Sandro pushed the ball to Cristian Rodríguez near the by-line, who then cut back for Silvestre Varela for a booming finish and his fourth goal of the campaign. After Helton tipped an effort from Tiago Targino over the bar Vitória de Setúbal was unable to muster another attack and with the final whistle Porto claimed the 3-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

Dmitri Bulykin leads Ajax past N.E.C.

John Davies — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:07:20 +0000

N.E.C.’s woes in Amsterdam continued as they were handed a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the defending champions Ajax in match-day twenty-two of the Eredivisie. The result extends the Nijmegen’s side losing streak to three of which they have not breached the opposition’s goal during said time and further raises the concern of relegation once again, whilst Ajax continues its pursuit of successful defending its championship in a highly congested top of the table.

Coming off the disappointing loss to Roda JC, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor summoned Pavel Čmovš in for Zoltán Szélesi but soon found hopes for points disappear. In recent play Ajax has had problems converting on opportunity but in front of their home fans against N.E.C. they would show a diamond cutter’s precision. After an early assault served notice, Ajax went in front 1-0 at the fourth minute as Siem de Jong carved out space to the right of the area away from Kevin Conboy before sending a slide-rule provision to the back post that Dmitri Bulykin side footed into the net. Like petrol onto the flames Ajax doubled the margin some three minutes later as a corner from the right say Siem de Jong out jump Bram Nuytinck to head the ball to the back post where Jan Vertonghen thumped it off his chest and into the net. Midway of the half Ajax drove a nail into coffin as twenty-one year old Aras Özbiliz (Արազ Օզբիլիզ), who recently declared his intention of playing for the Armenian national side, split the N.E.C. defenders with a sublime through ball for Dmitri Bulykin who poked this second goal of the young day past ‘keeper Gábor Babos. Four minutes past the half-hour the former Dynamo Moscow man Dmitry Bulykin succumbed to a hamstring injury, forcing Ajax manager Frank De Boer to call upon Nicolás Lodeiro as an emergency striker. The hosts continued to press but without a doubt eased back on accelerator with N.E.C’s lone offering coming at the fortieth minute but Leroy George’s effort from the edge of the area was foiled by ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer.

At the re-start, Mr. Pastoor searched for inspiration with the additions of Melvin Platje and John Goossens for Género Zeefuik and Leroy George but it was clearly Ajax’s day. As with the start of the contest, Ajax looked faster out of the gate and effectively announced the result was fait accompli at the fifty-seventh minute when Siem De Jong slipped unmarked past the N.E.C. defenders to nod a corner from left into the net. Down by four, an unwarranted mark on ‘keeper Gábor Babos who was otherwise left alone to deal with Ajax’s advance, N.E.C. show admirable spirit as they began to carve out a series of noteworthy openings and certainly made the final half-hour entertaining. Seizing upon a defending blunder by Ajax, Rens van Eijden leapt high at the back post to head his first goal for N.E.C. to cut the margin by three however that would be as close as it would get. The Nijmegen side continued to battle but following a sublime stop by Gábor Babos the final whistle sounded with Ajax earning a comfortable 4-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

Luciano Becchio sends Neil Warnock’s Leeds past Doncaster in Yorkshire Derby

John Davies — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 04:29:58 +0000

If not predictable, then a shape of things to come Neil Warnock’s first match since claiming the managerial helm of Leeds ended in victory as Luciano Becchio notched a late added-time goal to send the Whites past Doncaster Rovers 3-2 in a Yorkshire Derby at Elland Road. With the result hopes for Leeds effort to claim a spot in the playoff’s, improbable as it may seem, rise as they sit tenth in the table and three points removed from Birmingham.

Without a doubt Leeds present campaign has been disappointing for the faithful as they have combined a fine vintage attack with the likes of Scottish international Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio with dreadful defending that is more suitable for a relegation threat rather than a promotion hopeful. Yet now with Neil Warnock in charge that table will likely change as the sixty-three year old manager who turned around the Queens Park Rangers will button down their play into top flight contender.

With the new manager in the stands and Neil Redfearn temporarily stewarding the ship all did not start well for Leeds as the Doncaster went in front 1-0 when long ball evaded the hosts defenders before seeing James Hayter played through. Though Leeds ‘keeper Andy Lonergan did well to react to the ball, he was unable to smother it with Mamadou Bagayoko pouncing onto lashed it into the net from just beyond the spot. Clearly lacking the needed quality, Neil Warnock made an unscheduled stop in the change rooms during the break, later revealing a formation change and though the start was slow the result speaks volumes.

Starting slowly Leeds fell behind 2-0 six minutes shy of the hour as Tommy Spurr’s cross from the left was redirected from the back post El Hadji Diouf to Mamadou Bagayoko for a headed from the closest of close range finishes. Getting off the canvas, Leeds came back with a flourish a minute later as the highly talented twenty year-old Andros Townsend, on-loan from Tottenham, accepted a provision from Danny Pugh, via Luciano Becchio and rifled a low effort to the bottom right corner to cut the margin in half. Billowing with confidence, Leeds marched forward with Robert Snodgrass showing his vast abilities with a perfect cross from the left that Adam Clayton volleyed into the roof the net from seven metres with ten minutes remaining in regulation time. Leeds clearly was in charge of the whip but as time ticked down and five minutes of added-time signalled, Doncaster was settling their host’s onslaught. Further to an extended stoppage due to injuries to Robbie Rogers and Tommy Spurr that required both to be carted off, Luciano Becchio etched his name once again in the hero’s column. Coming in the ninth minute of added-time the Argentine maestro latched onto his own effort that was blocked and from just beyond the area sent the Elland Road faithful into rapture as Leeds claimed a 3-2 Yorkshire Derby victory over Doncaster.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

Valenciennes holds Olympique de Marseille to draw

John Davies — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 02:32:06 +0000

Valenciennes did well in their trip south as they held Olympique de Marseille to a 1-1 draw, honours event, in match day twenty-four at the Stade Vélodrome. With the result, l’OM sits in a third in the table, level with Lyonnais and Rennes who play on Sunday with Valenciennes nestled in at the tenth spot.

Les Olympiens manager Didier Deschamps, without the services of injured snipers Loïc Rémy and André-Pierre Gignac, as well as maintaining an eye towards their mid-week Champions League clash tinkered with his line-up with Jordan Ayew up-top and in-from striker Brandão on the bench. After Jordan Ayew was unable to connect with a header at the eighth minute, l’OM went in front 1-0 at the sixteenth minute as Alou Diarra raised high to nod in Rod Fanni’s sublime cross from the right. Buoyed with confidence the hosts continued to press with Jordan Ayew’s prospective effort from distance benefited from a mad deflection before bounding off the cross-bar at the twenty-ninth minute. Les Marseillais continued to dominate, excluding Renaud Cohade flirtation with the leveller that saw Charles Kaboré clear the ball off the line, but were unable to add to their lead as the contest went to the break 1-0.

At the re-start, M. Deschamps called upon Benoît Cheyrou for the now injured goal-scorer but said lead did not last long as corner from the left was un-cleared at the back-post with Gil poking the ball through a crowd and into the net. Just past the hour Brandão entered for Jordan Ayew, with Jérémy Morel for Djimi Traore to follow shortly. Jérémy Morel showed a burst of pace from left back and l’OM continued to apply the petrol but the final touch was lacking. In added-time, with the Marseillais urging their side on, Brandão drew hushed sighs as his header of Charles Kaboré’s cross from the left rasped off the woodwork before being played to safety. Following three minutes of added-time match day referee Saïd Ennjim sounded his whistle with the final result a 1-1 draw, honours even.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

Defending blunders send Manchester City past Porto in Europa League

John Davies — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:12:26 +0000

Owing much to a dreadful late defending lapse, Porto succumbed to Manchester City 2-1 at the Estádio do Dragão in the opening leg of their Europa League tie.

The defending Europa League champions came out swinging with Hulk the ever present menace of Porto’s attack. After seeing a series of advances thwarted on either end of the pitch, Porto went in front 1-0 as the Hulk sent a perfect low cross from near the left by-line that the mercurial Silvestre Varela out-raced Gaël Clichy to re-direct past ‘keeper Joe Hart from close range. The Dragões maintained their advantage courtesy of goalkeeper Helton’s superb stop of Mario Balotelli as the contest went to the break without further incident.

With City looking bold at the re-start and absolutely holding the upper hand, they managed to smash and grab the leveller as Yaya Touré’s long diagonal cross into the box from the left intended for Mario Balotelli skipped off the shoulder of Álvaro Pereira and past the ‘keeper for an own goal. With the contest now square, play became more contentious but high probability chances were at a premium and it appeared a draw lay in the horizon. At the seventy-eighth minute, Man City manager Roberto Mancini called upon Sergio Agüero for Mario Balotelli and shortly thereafter the travelling Citizens were in rapture as their side claimed a late winning stroke. Gifted the ball deep in the Porto end due to bumbling play on a throw-in, former Olympique de Marseille-man Samir Nasri slid the ball perfectly through the left channel for Yaya Touré, who then sent a low cross that Sergio Agüero turned into the net. For the balance of time, Porto suggested little venom going forward as Manchester City went home with the 2-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

Felipe Caicedo leads Lokomotiv Moscow past Athletic Bilbao in Europa

John Davies — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:27:18 +0000

Courtesy of Felipe Caicedo’s continued sublime play since joining Lokomotiv Moscow, the Railwayman defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in Europa League play at Luzhniki Stadion.

Under freezing conditions the Muscovites were under pressure early but after repelling a series of advances successfully fell behind 1-0 at the twenty-fifth minute via a flourishing counter-attack on the right from Markel Susaeta. Driving down the right under heavy pursuit from Renat Yanbayev, the attacker cut into the area, navigated his way past Alberto Zapater vai a smooth display of control before sliding the ball to Iker Muniain on the left with the nineteen year-old scoring from eleven metres.

Done by one Felipe Caicedo took matters into his own highly capable hands at the sixty-first minute with a flourishing near fifty-metre charge up the centre of the pitch before being brought down by Jon Aurtenetxe, with match-day referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan having no other choice but to adjudge a penalty. In the ensuing effort Denis Glushakov rifled the leveller into the right side of the net as Lokomotiv announced its intent. Railwayman manager José Couceiro summoned Victor Obinna for Dmitri Torbinsky shortly thereafter and with nineteen minutes remaining in regulation time the hosts notched the winning margin. Coming via a quick thinking surge on the left, Renat Yanbayev sent a arcing cross that the Ecuadorian international took a controlling touch before lashing to ball into the net from the edge of the area. Lokomotiv goalkeeper Guilherme held back the Spanish side’s advances and with the final whistle Lokomotiv laid claim to the 2-1 victory.

Prepared by John Davies
©Europa League News, 2011
All rights reserved

Dmitri Kombarov earns first cap for Russia

John Davies — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:59:51 +0000

Following his often electrifying performances on the left flank since returning to Spartak Moscow, Dmitri Kombarov has deservedly been added to Dick Advocaat’s selection for Russia’s friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen on 29 February. Joining Dmitri Kombarov is his first called up to the national side is new found team-mate Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who will be making his forty-sixth appearance.

Brandão leads Olympique de Marseille past Bourg-Péronnas

John Davies — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:32:04 +0000

Olympique de Marseille secured its spot in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Championaat side Bourg-Péronnas before a sparse crowd of under 9,000 that braved icy conditions at the Stade Vélodrome.

After a measured start with little attacking venom to note, Les Olympiens went in front 1-0 at the half-hour as a César Azpilicueta chased down a long ball near the right by-line before sending high volley to the back post that Brandão shook off his mark to poke into the net. l’OM doubled the margin at the second minute of added-time via a quick assault on the right that saw Morgan Amalfitano race into the area before sliding a low provision that Brandão did not waste from ten metres.

At the re-start Olympiens manager Didier Deschamps summoned Jordan Ayew for Loïc Rémy and only eight minutes later the Ghanaian international added his name to the score sheet with an effort from distance. Via a quick counter the twenty year-old attacker latched onto Benoît Cheyrou’s provision on the left, surged forward before teeing up to his right and sending a low skipping effort from twenty-four metres to the bottom near corner. With the contest now effectively fait accompli, M. Deschamps called upon Jean-Philippe Sabo for Mathieu Valbuena just before the hour with the Marseillais faithful later giving Brandão his just due fifteen minutes later as the Brazilian striker left for Charles Kaboré. While the Rhône-Alpes side managed to squeeze a goal past Gennaro Bracigliano with Ousmane Diaby pushing a deflected free-kick past the veteran ‘keeper at the seventy-eight minute it had little impact upon the outcome as Didier Deschamps’ men continued their route towards to Coupe de France with a 3-1 victory.

Marc Janko leads Porto past União de Leiria

John Davies — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:27:18 +0000

The addition of Marc Janko continued to reap large dividends for Porto as the Austrian international led a late charge in route to a 4-0 victory over União de Leiria at the Estádio do Dragão. With the result, Porto trails Benfica by five points at the conclusion of week eighteen of Liga Portuguesa.

In a tightly played contest Porto squandered a series of chances in the opening forty-five minutes as it found its bearings against league bottom dwellers. To the credit of Manuel Cajuda’s side the contest went to the break deadlocked with Porto searching for answers in what should have been an easy nights work.

Three minutes after the re-start, the complexion of the match changed completely as José Shaffer received a straight red-card from referee Rui Silva for laying the boots to João Moutinho. Porto wasted no time with the personnel advantage as at the sixty-fifth minute João Moutinho raced through the left channel before sending a low cross that Marc Janko steered in from five metres. Now confident, the margin was doubled eight minutes later as Hulk led a quick assault on the right before crossing to Lucho González. From twelve metres the newly returned playmaker from Olympique de Marseille saw his effort denied but James Rodríguez showed his poaching abilities and rifled the rebound into the net. Seeing blood, Porto attacked at every chance and with five minutes remaining in regulation time Fernando surged down the right and played a low cross that Álvaro Pereira volleyed into the net, effectively announcing the result was fait accompli. Two minutes later Maicon nodded in a free-kick from near the right by-line to round out the scoring in Porto’s confidence inspiring 4-0 victory.

Borussia Mönchengladbach charges forward with victory over Schalke 04

John Davies — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:40:05 +0000

Borussia Mönchengladbach continued its charge towards its first domestic title in thirty-five years with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Schalke 04 in week twenty-one of the Bundesliga. With the result Lucien Favre’s men sit third in the table, three points off defending champions Borussia Dortmund.

Last claiming the Bundesliga crown in 1977, Borussia wasted little time in front of their various supporters as they took the lead less than two minutes after the opening whistle. Initiated through Patrick Herrmann’s surging run on the left, the twenty-year pulled the ball inside to Marco Reus, who turned away from the defenders before firing to the low bottom of the net. Die Fohlen continued its thirst for goals and after seeing one effort squandered Mike Hanke doubled the margin on the quarter hour with a majestic piece of attacking art. From the right Mike Hanke played a delectable series of one-two with Belgian international Filip Daems and Juan Arango before a brilliant finish to the right corner of the net. Two minutes past the half-hour the contest was fait accompli as Juan Arango struck a sublime free-kick from twenty-five metres that dipped over the wall and off the underside of the cross-bar.

After the break it was merely a matter of the defending lock of Lucien Favre’s men to take hold, to which they accomplished with perfection to lay claim to the 3-0 victory.