CLUB Brugge’s Aussie goalkeeper Matthew Ryan made some smart saves to deny Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk’s attackers in a 0-0 draw in Belgium.
That keeps Brugge in contention for a first European semifinal since 1988, when the competition was known as the UEFA Cup.
Brugge remain the only team yet to lose in this season’s Europa League, with Ryan’s two clutch late saves vital, particularly off Konoplyanka, who forced him to stretch sharply to his left.
Other matches
Marek Hamsik scored twice as Napoli took a giant step toward the Europa League semifinals Thursday by beating Wolfsburg 4-1 away in the first leg of their quarterfinal.
Wolfsburg, which had won five of its last six games in all competitions, must now score four goals in the April 23 second leg in Naples to have any hope of progressing to the semifinals.
Gonzalo Higuain put Napoli ahead after 15 minutes against the run of play from a pass by Dries Mertens, before Hamsik struck eight minutes later. The Slovakian forward beat Wolfsburg’s offside trap to latch on to Higuain’s curling pass and score
Hamsik’s second goal on 64 minutes was a simple finish after a poor pass in the Wolfsburg defense allowed Jose Callejon to snatch the ball and set up the striker.
Manolo Gabbadiani added a fourth with a 77th-minute header, but the host pulled one back three minutes later when Nicklas Bendtner scored to boost Wolfsburg’s slim hopes of reaching the semifinals.
For Rafa Benitez, who has won the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Europa League in an impressive managerial career, it marked his 55th birthday.
current trophy holders Sevilla had two substitutes to thank as they came from behind to beat Zenit St Petersburg 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
The visitors, coached by Andre Villas-Boas, took the lead in the 29th minute when Aleksandr Ryazantsev rammed the rebound into the roof of the net after his initial shot was blocked by goalkeeper Sergio Rico.
Sevilla had gone 33 games at home without losing in more than a year but that run was under serious threat until they produced an equaliser in the 73rd minute.
Aleix Vidal held up a cross from the right and Carlos Bacca, who had come on for Kevin Gameiro a short while before, headed home from close range.
And Sevilla claimed a precious lead to take to Russia for the return as Barcelona loanee Denis Suarez, also on as a substitute, volleyed past Yuri Lodygin two minutes from time.
“I hadn’t played for a while and I was desperate to take my opportunity, which I did,” Suarez told Spanish TV channel Cuatro
In Ukraine, Fiorentina rescued a 1-1 draw away to Dynamo Kiev, with Khouma Babacar’s stoppage-time leveler saving the Italian team from a third straight defeat in all competitions.
0 comments:
Post a Comment