ReutersTadic makes the 2-1 from a penalty
NOS Voetbal•yesterday, 9:04 PM•Adjusted yesterday, 11:35 PM
After a hopeless situation, Fenerbahçe has fought back in the battle for a place in the semi-finals of the Conference League. The Turkish team came back from a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 in the match against Olympiacos.
The other quarter-finals have also not yet been decided after the first meeting. Club Brugge won 1-0 against the Greek PAOK, Aston Villa defeated Lille 2-1 and Viktoria Plzen against Fiorentina ended in 0-0.
It seemed to be a very painful evening for Fenerbahçe. After 32 minutes, the Turkish club found itself trailing 2-0 after goals from Konstantinos Fortounis and Stevan Jovetic.
A little later, left back Jayden Oosterwolde also had to leave the field on a stretcher. The former FC Twente player seriously injured his knee after a match and was unable to get up. Ferdi Kadioglu, Turkish international and former NEC player, came on for him.
Penalty kick Tadic
In the second half, Olympiacos’ Chiquinho caused the Turks even more problems. The midfielder skillfully shot the ball into the far corner after some fiddling in the back at Fenerbahçe: 3-0.
Fenerbahçe’s European adventure seemed as good as over. Until a penalty was awarded in the 67th minute. Dusan Tadic calmly shot the ball into the corner.
ReutersOosterwolde on stretcher from the field
A few minutes later it happened again. Substitute Kadioglu gave an excellent cross, after which former Feyenoord player Sebastian Szymanski unconsciously extended the ball towards Irfan Kahveci. He didn’t hesitate and shot the 3-2 against the ropes.
Bruges wins against PAOK
Club Brugge, the only remaining Belgian team in Europe, dealt fairly easily with the Greek PAOK.
The Belgians got off to an excellent start. After just six minutes it was 1-0 in the Jan Breydel Stadium. Ferran Jutgla came up from the left and saw Hugo Vetlesen cleverly offer himself on the edge of the penalty area. The Norwegian midfielder then calmly placed the ball in the right corner, leaving goalkeeper and former Ajax player Dominik Kotarski without a chance.
Brugge, with Björn Meijer on the bench, had another great chance a few minutes later, but Brazilian striker Igor Thiago fell just short of sliding the ball in.
EPAClub Brugge celebrates the 1-0 against PAOK
PAOK was hardly involved. The Greeks were always forced onto the defensive by the Belgians, who mainly fought from the left. De Cuyper once again showed that he has an excellent cross. Thiago was completely free, headed narrowly wide, but also turned out to be offside.
The second half also had a fairly one-sided picture. It was a miracle that the score remained at 1-0. Striker Thiago also missed a penalty.
Aston Villa quite sovereign
Aston Villa took an early lead against French club Lille. And that could have happened even earlier, but Oliver Watkins failed to pass the ball when he walked alone towards the keeper. He decided to shoot himself but missed.
The English striker had something to make up for. And he did that in the thirteenth minute, when he headed home from a John McGinn corner.
Villa extended their lead in the second half. Leon Bailey slipped while delivering a cross, but still got the ball to McGinn. He didn’t hesitate and his shot from the edge of sixteen ended up wonderfully in the left corner.
ReutersMcGinn fourth de 2-0
In the 84th minute, Lille returned the favor with a goal from Bafodé Diakité, who headed home from a corner. But the French were unable to really make a stand against the Premier League club.
Fireworks on the field
Another Conference League quarter-final, Viktoria Plzen against Fiorentina, brought few highlights. It remained a 0-0 draw.
The referee stopped the match for a while. Several flares were thrown onto the field. Players tried with their hands and feet to get the fireworks off the field, but new objects were added every time.
ReutersFireworks on the field at Viktoria Plzen
