Europa League 2022/23 RO16: Union Saint-Gilloise has knocked Union Berlin out of the Europa League. After an exciting and spectacular first leg in Berlin, the Belgian club was too strong on Thursday for the team that previously eliminated Ajax. AS Roma and Bayer Leverkusen also joined the last eight.
Union Saint-Gilloise 3-0 Union Berlin
Germany’s Union Berlin came back from behind three times last week, but that did not work on Thursday. Union Saint-Gilloise reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League by winning 2-0 at home. Teddy Teuma opened the score after a mistake in the back by the visitors. Victor Boniface scored the second goal in the second half and Loïc Lapoussin set the final score at 3-0, leaving Danilho Doekhi and Sheraldo Becker stranded in the round of 16.
Real Sociedad 0-0 AS Roma
After the 2-0 win at home, Roma was no longer in trouble in San Sebastián. Chris Smalling even thought to give his team the lead just before half-time, but his goal from a corner kick was canceled after the referee had found a handball. Rick Karsdorp had already been replaced by then. The right back started just like Georginio Wijnaldum, but was injured in a collision and went to the side with a bloodied nose. In the second half it was no longer exciting. Deep into extra time, Carlos Fernández received the red card from Sociedad’s side.
Ferencvaros 0-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayer Leverkusen already won 2-0 in the first leg and quickly put an end to all doubts in Hungary. Moussa Diaby gave the visitors the lead in the third minute, so it never really got exciting in the return. Jeremie Frimpong, who was in the starting line-up just like Mitchel Bakker, saw a goal rejected in the second half. The 0-2 then fell through Amine Adli and Leverkusen easily reached the next round.
Shakhtar Donetsk coach Igor Jovicevic and his team experienced a tough evening at Feyenoord on Thursday. Nevertheless, the Croat also expressed his appreciation for a special moment in De Kuip afterwards.
Feyenoord 7-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Feyenoord rumbled over Shakhtar, but in the 87th minute Kevin Kelsy saved the honor on behalf of the guests with a scrutinized slide past Timon Wellenreuther. After his goal, a large part of the supporters in De Kuip clapped for the Ukrainians, who are of course going through sad times outside of football.
Even after the match, people in South Rotterdam showed support for the visitors from the war-ravaged country. On the field there was a nice chat between Orkun Kökçü and Mykola Matvienko.
At his press conference afterwards, Jovicevic addressed the statements of support. “The applause of the Dutch public means a lot to us, it is a sign of respect towards us and it is very symbolic,” said the trainer, who has been standing for the group at Shakhtar since last summer.
“We are thankful for that one goal. We really feel the support. We’ve come a long way. At first we were an outsider, but in the end we performed well. Now we will focus on our own competition,” said Jovicevic.
