Europa League: Arsenal knocked out by Sporting on penalties; Man United march on to next round
Arsenal suffered Europa League heartbreak as Sporting Lisbon knocked the Gunners out on penalties in the last 16 following a thrilling 3-3 draw on aggregate.
Following last week’s 2-2 draw, Granit Xhaka propelled Arsenal into an undeserved lead in the first half, but an astonishing Pedro Goncalves effort from at least 50 yards forced extra time in North London.
The Gunners ramped up the pressure in extra time, but Ruben Amorim’s 10 men clung on to force a nail-biting penalty shootout – the first-ever competitive 12-yard battle at the Emirates Stadium – where Gabriel Martinelli fluffed his lines as the Portuguese giants advanced to the quarter-finals.Feyenoord earned a record-equalling win to join Juventus and Man United in the UEFA Europa League round of 16, while Sporting CP pulled off a shock to eliminate Arsenal on penalties.
Manchester United and Juventus eased through as Sevilla held their nerve held in Istanbul and Feyenoord hit seven to storm through to Friday’s quarter-final draw.
In the game between Sevilla and Fenerbahçe, Enner Valencia’s coolly-taken penalty was not enough to overturn a first-leg deficit in Istanbul. The 33-year-old sent Marko Dmitrović the wrong way from the spot just before half-time, Alex Telles having handled Ferdi Kadıoğlu’s cross. The hosts cranked up the pressure after the break, with Valencia the closest to levelling the tie. However, Sevilla held firm, and might have equalised on the night, Erik Lamela’s free-kick hitting the post late on.
Sevilla have gone on to lift this trophy every time they have reached the last eight.
Dušan Vlahović’s strike was enough to send Juventus through against Nantes.He had an effort ruled out from open play but then converted from the penalty spot just before the break to double Juve’s overall advantage after Manuel Gulde had received his second yellow of the night for handling in the box. Wojciech Szczęsny saved from Matthias Ginter in the first half and Lucas Höler in the second, but there was no Freiburg breakthrough, Federico Chiesa completing Juve’s win late on.
Juventus have lost only one of their last 22 UEFA Europa League matches, including qualifying (W12 D9).
Juanmi slid an early shot just past the far post before Joaquín’s deflected effort clipped the outside of the upright, and Facundo Pellistri, on his first United start, then struck the woodwork at the other end on the stroke of half-time. However, the game was up for the hosts once Marcus Rashford fired in a brilliant effort from 25 metres on 56 minutes, barely a minute after spurning a decent chance in the box.
Rashford’s 25th European goal moved him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo to make him United’s sixth top scorer in continental competition.
Feyenoord breezed into the quarter-finals with a win that equalled the biggest margin of victory in a Europa League game. Santiago Giménez opened the scoring before Orkun Kökçü struck twice to make it 3-0 before the break. Oussama Idrissi curled in two more after the interval, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Danilo Pereira completing a four-goal salvo in the space of 18 minutes. Kevin Kelsy had the final word with a late consolation for the Pitmen.
In their 300th European match, Feyenoord have now won 11 of their last 13 UEFA competition home matches (D2).
Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise comfortably saw off their ten-man German counterparts Union Berlin. Teddy Teuma put the hosts in front with a fine first-time left-footed strike on 18 minutes, before Lazare Amani doubled their lead with a sublime close-range effort after the break. Urs Fischer’s side were reduced to ten men when substitute Janik Haberer received a second yellow card with ten minutes left, and Loïc Lapoussin then rifled in a third.
Union SG have won nine of their last ten home matches in all competitions (L1).
Bayern Leverkusen eased into the quarter-finals with a comfortable victory in Budapest, the host city for this year’s Europa League final. Ferencváros’s hopes of retrieving a 2-0 first-leg deficit faded after Moussa Diaby scored a superb solo goal in the third minute. Adama Traoré hit the crossbar as the home team pushed back but Amine Adli’s strike in the closing stages removed any lingering doubt.
Leverkusen are through to their second Europa League quarter-final in four years.
Real Sociedad were unable to convert the chances that might have clawed back their first-leg deficit. The best opportunity fell to home skipper Mikel Oyarzabal, who hit the woodwork from close range after Rui Patrício had saved his initial effort. Alexander Sørloth and Igor Zubeldia both headed wide, and the hosts could not find a breakthrough. La Real sub Carlos Fernández was sent off for a second booking late on.
Roma failed to score for only the second time in their last 37 UEFA competition matches.
