It was a low scoring night for Yanks involved in Europa League action, however both Tim Chandler and Deandre Yedlin saw their team end up group winners.
Fenerbahce 1 – 1 Frankfurt
Tim Chandler started for Eintracht and put in a 69-minute shift, picking up a yellow card before making way for Danny da Costa in this Europa League battle in the Turkish capital of Istanbul.
Djibril Sow scored for the Germans in the first half, however Mergim Berisha cancelled out the Swiss midfielder’s go ahead goal with one of his own just before the intermission.
It was just before the half-hour mark when Japanese international Daichi Kamada found the ball and picked out his Serbian teammate Filip Kostic. The midfielder then passed to Sow, who shook off a pair of defenders and claimed his first Euro goal to put Frankfurt in the lead.
The advantage lasted all of 13 minutes however and ironically, it was a German who scored against the Frankfurters. When Makoto Hasebe failed to clear the ball out of the box, it fell to Berisha, he coolly finished from close range.
Frankfurt had been dominating the game up to that point, so they were unlucky to lose the lead just before heading into the locker room for the intermission.
Fenerbahce came out for the second half playing more like a determined team but although they had a good spell of possession, found it very difficult to create chances. Chandler did pick up a yellow after a late challenge on Filip Novak.
In the end, the point was all Frankfurt needed to assure that they would win the group, thus securing a bye to the Round of 16, and thereby condemning their Turkish opponents to third place and a spot in the Conference League knockout
Lazio 0 – 0 Galatasaray
DeAndre Yedlin went the distance in Rome when his Turkish team went up against Lazio in the Italian capital, coming away with a scoreless draw
Neither team could find the back of the net on Thursday night; however, the Turks were happy with the point that gives them the honor of being undefeated Group E winners with three wins and three draws over the six games.
The will find out their possible Round of 16 opponents when the European knockout draws are made on Monday.
Marseille 1 – 0 Lokomotiv Moscow
Konrad de la Fuente got the nod and started for Olympique against Russians Lokomotiv Moscow, however was subbed out in the 82nd minute, giving him a solid night’s work in Europe.
The only goal of the game came from Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik in the first half, to put the French team in the lead. The visitors had no answer however and left the stadium with no wins in their six group games.
Marseille finish third in Group E, and will thus drop down to the Europa Conference League knockout, with their opponent to be set on Monday Next up for the Mediterraneant team will be a trip to the German speaking part of France to take on Strasbourg this weekend.
Genk 0 – 1 Rapid Vienna
Mark McKenzie went the distance for Genk when they hosted the Austrians in the last game of the group stages, in a loss that knocks them completely out of European play.
The only thing that separated the two teams was a first half net bender from midfielder Robert Ljubičić, which secured the victory and a spot in the Europa Conference League knockout round for the Austrians.
McKenzie and his Belgian teammates finish a disappointing last-place in Group H, and are thus eliminated from all European competition.
Up next will be a road trip to take on the Buffaloes of Gent in league action on Sunday afternoon.
Notes
Cristian Cappis was a 61st minute substitute for Brøndby when they travelled to take on Sparta Prague. A goal minutes before the intermission and then one minutes after the intermission was enough for the Czechs to earn the victory over the Danish team that finished bottom of their group, recording no wins and four defeats.
Richard Ledezma stayed rooted to the bench during PSV Eindhoven’s 3-0 road loss to Real Sociedad. The loss knocked them out of the Europa League, but now they will contest a Conference League play-off. Up next however is a league game at Nijmegen on Sunday evening.
Sam Vines was not on the game day roster for Royal Antwrep as they beat Olympiakos on a sixth minute goal that was the only one in the game. The Great Old will host Standard Liege on Sunday afternoon at the Bosuil Stadium.
Dion Cools was a 78th minute substitute when Midtjylland went up against Ludogorets. The 0-0 draw however meant that they will now end up in the Conference League. First, however, will be their Danish Cup game over the weekend against Brøndby.
Cameron Carter-Vickers was left off the game day roster for Celtic’s clash against Real Betis from Sevilla, Spain. The game was a exciting one with the Scottish boys winning this one by a 3-2 score line. Win or lose, they were already destined to continue their European adventures in the Conference League in the new year.
