European Football Live: Arsenal and Sporting Extend with World-Class Goals, Karsdorp Leaves Roma Pitch Bleeding
Arsenal Beat Vorskla with a World-Class Victory
On Thursday, 29th November 2018, Arsenal made it through their Europa League group stage with a 3-0 win over Vorskla. The match started in the latter’s ground, but due to security concerns, it was played at the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kyiv, Ukraine. The Gunners secured their place in the knockout stages with a fine display of football, with each one of their goals scored in the first half.
The team’s manager, Unai Emery, chose to rotate his squad for this match, but the decision didn’t stop Arsenal from dominating the game. The star performer for them was undoubtedly Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who showed his world-class skills which led to Arsenal’s first goal of the night.
The Gabonese forward received a reverse pass from Henrikh Mkhitaryan before going around the Vorskla keeper and slotting it into an empty net. Arsenal’s second goal came from another excellent individual effort by Mkhitaryan just before the half-time whistle. Finally, the team’s third goal was scored by Substitute, Emile Smith-Rowe, in the 83rd minute.
This Arsenal’s win leaves them top of their Europa League group, with a game left in this group stage. Their victory has certainly put them in pole position to achieve one of the top seeds in the upcoming draw.
#Arsenal #EuropaLeague #Aubameyang
Sporting CP, Agony for Qarabag
Sporting CP’s place in the Europa League knockout stage has been secured with a 6-1 win over Qarabag, who have now been knocked out of the competition. The Portugal team delivered a heavily one-sided match performance that exploited the visiting Azerbaijan team’s weaknesses. Frederico Varandas who was newly appointed as the Sporting’s president in September can be equally pleased by his club’s good result.
The match was played at the Quimera Dacosta Stadium in Portugal, and the hosts opened the scoring from the penalty spot through Nani, their captain. However, Qarabag came back quickly, and they were given a penalty of their own. The score was even two minutes before Duarte’s own goal gave Sporting CP the lead. The Portugal team went into half-time leading 3-1 after another goal from Abdoulay Diaby.
The second half was all Sporting CP’s show to put their mark on this group stage match. Leading twice as much already, the home side could ease into their routines and in the process score three more goals for themselves. Three more Sporting CP players found the back of the net, including Bruno Fernandes with a brace.
#SportingCP #EuropaLeague #QuimeraDacostaStadium
Roma’s Shot to Extend Winning Run Derailed by Karsdorp Injury
Announcing their spot at the top of Group G was not the only good news story of this Europa League match in Vienna for AS Roma. Their 1-0 win over Rapid Vienna, thanks to a goal from young striker Umar Sadiq, secured their safe passage through to the knockout round of the Europa League. However, it came at a cost of their Dutch defender Rick Karsdorp’s injury.
The Italian side made it through to the Europa League knockout stages with a win at the Allianz Stadion, but with Karsdorp’s injury, it could prove to be a significant setback for them. The club’s medical staff had to help the defender off the pitch with bleeding to his mouth after what seemed to be contact to his head from a overhead kick attempt from one of the Vienna players.
Karsdorp, whose signing from Feyenoord had initially been warmly welcomed by Roma, has had a string of injuries since joining the Italian team, including a cruciate ligament that restricted him to only a few appearances last season. Now it looks like he could be out for a while again.
#ASRoma #Karsdorp #EuropaLeague
Summary: Arsenal and Sporting CP continued their win streaks in the Europa League Group Stage with a dominating victory in their respective matches. However, for AS Roma, their victory was dimmed by the injury to their Dutch defender, Rick Karsdorp. With only a game left in the Group stages, the teams will look forward to securing their spots in the knockout stages of the competition. #Arsenal #SportingCP #ASRoma #EuropaLeague #SPORT