UEL: Man United, PSV through as Lazio and Roma keep qualification hopes alive with important wins
Goals from Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo gave Manchester United a 3-0 win over FC Sheriff on Thursday evening in the Europa League.
The ultimately comfortable win set up an enticing group decider with Real Sociedad, to be played in San Sebastian next Thursday afternoon.
PSV Eindhoven also ended Arsenal’s unbeaten run as they handed the Gunners their first defeat in Europe this season with Lazio and Roma winning to ensure they can still qualify in their last respective group games.
Here is a round up of the Thursday night action.
Man United 3-0 Sheriff Tiraspol
United secured a top-two finish in Group E with a dominant win against the Moldovan champions, whose faint hopes of overhauling the Red Devils foundered at Old Trafford. Diogo Dalot’s header from a Christian Eriksen corner gave Erik ten Hag’s side a deserved lead, before a well-taken header from Marcus Rashford and a close-range effort from Cristiano Ronaldo added gloss to the scoreline in the second half.
Key stat: The opening goal was Dalot’s first for United since an FA Cup victory over Tranmere Rovers in January 2020.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
Luuk de Jong came off the bench to earn a win which secured a top-two spot for PSV. Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simons had goals ruled out for offside in a first half short on chances, but De Jong’s introduction at the break gave the hosts a new threat. The 32-year-old teed up Joey Veerman for a well-taken opener before heading in Gakpo’s corner for the second. De Jong headed wide and Gakpo had another ruled out as Arsenal lost for the first time in Group A.
Key stat: Defeat ended a run of ten straight UEFA Europa League group stage wins for Arsenal.
HJK Helsinki 1-2 Roma
Roma kept hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive as Stephan El Shaarawy’s deflected strike secured a hard-earned win in Helsinki. Tammy Abraham’s header was cancelled out by Perparim Hetemaj, only for El Shaarawy’s effort just past the hour to go in off Arttu Hoskonen and restore the Italian side’s advantage. The newly-crowned Finnish champions thought they had equalised again but David Browne’s stunning effort was ruled out for an infringement in the penalty area. Roma must now beat Ludogorets to claim second spot in Group C.
Key stat: Roma have now scored in their last 24 European away fixtures.
Lazio 2-1 Midtjylland
Lazio came from behind to keep qualification for the knockout phase in their own hands. Gustav Isaksen fired into the bottom corner after eight minutes for the Danish side, but captain Sergej Milinković-Savić’s composed finish sent Lazio in level at the break. The Serie A side had the better of it from then on, substitute Pedro Rodríguez scoring the winner. The Biancocelesti are now three points clear of Midtjylland at the top of Group F heading into Matchday 6.
Key stat: Pedro’s goal was his 29th goal in UEFA club competition, and his second in this season’s Europa League.
All the Matchday 5 results
Group A: Zürich 2-1 Bodø/Glimt, PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Arsenal
Group B: AEK Larnaca 3-3 Dynamo Kyiv, Fenerbahçe 3-3 Rennes
Group C: Ludogorets 0-1 Real Betis, HJK Helsinki 1-2 Roma
Group D: Malmö 0-2 Union Saint-Gilloise, Union Berlin 1-0 Braga
Group E: Man United 3-0 Sheriff, Omonoia 0-2 Real Sociedad
Group F: Lazio 2-1 Midtjylland, Sturm Graz 1-0 Feyenoord
Group G: Freiburg 1-1 Olympiacos, Nantes 2-1 Qarabağ
Group H: Crvena zvezda 2-1 Trabzonspor, Ferencváros 1-1 Monaco
