Europa League: Keane's Ferencvaros out, Ajax dig deep
Robbie Keane's Ferencvaros fell to a 3-0 defeat to Czech side Viktoria Plzen as their Europa League round of 16 hopes came unstuck.
Keane's side had carried an advantage into the tie after a 1-0 win in Budapest in the first leg, but that was wiped out emphatically in 11 first-half minutes as Vaclav Jemelka, Pavel Sulc and Rafiu Durosinmi all hit the target to secure a 3-0 win for Plzen.
Ajax scraped through to the round of 16 after Kenneth Taylor’s extra-time penalty in a 2-1 defeat secured them a 3-2 aggregate win against Union Saint-Gilloise.
The Dutch side held a 2-0 lead after the first leg in Belgium but went behind to Kevin Mac Allister’s header and after Ajax forward Davy Klaasen was sent off for deliberate handball, Promise David converted the subsequent penalty.
Taylor spared Ajax blushes by converting the game’s second penalty in the third minute of extra time after Christian Burgess’ handball.
Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce advanced 5-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 draw against Anderlecht in Brussels, but the game was marred by fighting among rival fans and reports of racist chanting, which forced the match to be suspended for 15 minutes.
Both sides were led from the pitch by the referee shortly after Youssef En-Nesyri had put Fenerbahce 1-0 up on the night and although Luis Vazquez’s double gave Anderlecht a glimmer of hope after the game had resumed, Yusuf Akcicek’s header ensured Mourinho’s side avoided defeat.
Real Sociedad eased to a 5-2 home win against 10-man Midtjylland to go through 7-3 on aggregate.
Brais Mendez’s early effort extended Sociedad’s 2-1 advantage from the first leg and Luka Sucic notched the first of his brace to put the Spaniards in full control.
Midtjylland clawed it back to 4-3 on aggregate through Adam Buksa’s penalty and Dario Osorio, but Sucic added his second before the break and after visiting midfielder Dani Silva’s second-half dismissal, Mikel Oyarzabal’s penalty and Orri Oskarsson sealed Sociedad a comfortable win.
Niccolo Pisilli’s late goal clinched Roma a 3-2 home win against 10-man Porto and sent the Italians through 4-3 on aggregate.
Pisilli struck in the closing stages after Paulo Dybala’s first-half double had cancelled out Samu Aghehowa’s opener for Porto.
The Portuguese side’s hopes were dealt a blow when Stephen Eustaquio was shown a straight red card for violent conduct early in the second half and Roma defender Devyne Rensch’s stoppage-time own goal was immaterial.
Kenneth Taylor scores from the penalty spot for Ajax
Bodo/Glimt and Twente struck three times between them in stoppage time as the Norwegian champions secured a thrilling 5-2 win on the night after extra time to progress 6-4 on aggregate.
Twente extended their 2-1 first-leg advantage through Fredrik Sjovold’s first-half own goal before Kasper Hogh’s second-half penalty reduced the deficit.
Bodo appeared to be heading out, but Mees Hilger’s own goal in added time drew them level on aggregate and Brice Wembangomo then put them ahead, only for Sem Steijn’s effort for Twente in the sixth minute of added time to send the tie to extra time.
Sondre Fet struck for Bodo in the 111th minute and then Arno Verschueren’s own goal – the third of the match – sealed victory for the Norwegians.
Steaua Bucharest cruised through 4-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 second-leg home win against PAOK and Alkmaar’s 2-2 draw in Istanbul against Galatasaray saw them into the last 16, 6-3 on aggregate.
