Rangers loved an enormous European night time at Ibrox on Thursday, as a 2-1 win over Sparta Prague boosted their hopes of qualification from UEFA Europa League Group C.
Actual Betis’ snug 4-1 win over Aris Limassol means the Spanish aspect are effectively positioned to advance as group winners, however Rangers moved into second.
The Gers went in entrance on 12 minutes, with Danilo crafting and scoring the purpose. The ahead did fantastically to shut down James Gomez and pinch the ball. He strode into the field, opened up his physique and curled a shot into the far nook.
Todd Cantwell doubled Rangers’ lead on 20 minutes with a neat end from simply contained in the field for his first purpose of the season.
Sparta pressed onerous within the second half and Lukas Haraslin gave them hope on 77 minutes when smashing house from contained in the field.
Rangers had been indebted to their goalkeeper Jack Butland on 86 minutes, as he plunged to his left to maintain out a goal-bound effort from Haraslin
The win lifts Rangers to seven factors, two behind Betis, however three in entrance of Sparta.
Slavia stun Roma
Slavia Prague put themselves within the hunt to assert prime spot in UEFA Europa League Group G following a 2-0 win over Roma.
The Czech aspect had been crushed 2-0 by Roma within the reverse fixture, however turned the shape on its head in complete trend.
Slavia threatened to interrupt by means of within the first half, and did precisely that 5 minutes after the restart. Roma goalkeeper Mile Svilar did effectively to maintain out Lukas Masopust’s low header, however Mojmir Chytil stored the ball alive and Vaclav Jurecka turned the ball house from six yards.
The Czech aspect’s opening purpose was scrappy, the second on 74 minutes was not. Masopust discovered area on the sting of the field, and he took one contact earlier than arrowing a shot into the underside nook.
The win lifted Slavia to 9 factors – the identical as Roma – however above Jose Mourinho’s aspect on purpose distinction.
Each are primed to safe automated qualification or a spot within the play-off spherical, however Servette’s win over Sheriff means they’ve to attend.
Courageous Aberdeen bow out with heads held excessive
Aberdeen’s slim hopes of qualification within the UEFA Europa Convention League got here to an finish, however they gave their travelling followers one thing to cheer with a courageous efficiency at PAOK.
The Dons wanted a win to face any likelihood of qualifying, and Duk’s very good flip and end from a Nicky Devlin cross gave them hope.
PAOK equalised on 23 minutes, with Taison discovering area within the field to stroke house from 10 yards.
The Greek aspect’s strain advised on 64 minutes when Aberdeen did not clear a nook and Mbwana Samatta rose excessive to look the ball house.
Aberdeen had the ultimate say, with Jamie McGrath scoring the purpose of the night time when he lashed house an excellent free-kick from 25 yards that dipped and swerved earlier than beating Dominik Kotarski within the PAOK purpose to safe a 2-2 draw.
PAOK have 10 factors from 4 video games, one away from Eintracht Frankfurt who crushed HJK 1-0. Aberdeen have two factors.
Hammers win to spice up qualification hopes
The victory lifted David Moyes’ aspect to the highest of Europa League Group A, stage on 9 factors with Freiburg who ran out 5-0 winners over TSC.
Olympiacos are third on 4 factors with two video games remaining.
Reds shocked by Toulouse
A defensive error allowed Aron Donnum to fireplace Toulouse in entrance, albeit aided by a depraved deflection.
With the bit between their enamel, Toulouse pressed and harried Liverpool and it was glorious restoration play that arrange Thijs Dallinga to double Toulouse’s lead on 58 minutes.
An personal purpose on 74 minutes from Cristian Casseres gave Liverpool hope, however Frank Magri restored the two-goal cushion.
Diogo Jota scored on 89 minutes to arrange a frantic end, and Jarell Quansah thought he had levelled deep into time added on, however it was chalked off for a handball by Alexis Mac Allister.
Europa League outcomes
- Freiburg 5-0 TSC
- West Ham 1-0 Olympiacos
- Ajax 0-2 Brighton
- AEK Athens 0-2 Marseille
- Rangers 2-1 Sparta Prague
- Actual Betis 4-1 Aris Limassol
- Atalanta 1-0 Sturm Graz
- Sporting 2-1 Rakow Czestochowa
- LASK 3-0 Union Saint-Gilliose
- Toulouse 3-2 Liverpool
- Maccabi Haifa 1-2 Villarreal
- Rennes 3-1 Panathinaikos
- Servette 2-1 Sheriff
- Slavia Prague 2-0 Roma
- Qarabag 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
- Haecken 1-3 Molde
Europa Convention League outcomes
- Olimpija Ljubljana 2-0 Klaksvik
- Slovan Bratislava 1-1 Lille
- Breidablik 2-3 Gent
- Zorya 1-3 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Astana 0-0 Ballkani
- Viktoria Plzen 1-0 Dinamo Zagreb
- Besiktas 1-2 Bodo/Glimt
- Brugge 2-0 Lugano
- Legia Warsaw 2-0 Zrinjski Mostar
- Aston Villa 2-1 AZ Alkmaar
- Cukaricki 0-1 Fiorentina
- Ferencvaros 1-1 Genk
- HJK 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
- PAOK 2-2 Aberdeen
- Nordsjaelland 1-1 Spartak Trnava
- Ludogorets 2-0 Fenerbahce