Mixed fortunes for our Europa League clubs
A walk in the park for AA Gent
AA Gent had little trouble seeing off the Turkish side Atiker Konyaspor. The Buffaloes beat the Turks by 2 goals to 0.
Both Gent’s goals came in the first half. Salef opened the scoring on 18 minutes with Neto making it 2-0 on 34 minutes.
Atiker Konyaspor created little in the way of dangers and AA Gent cruised on to an easy win.
The result sees AA Gent 2nd in Group H with 4 points from 2 games. Konyaspor is last with 0 points.
KRC Genk takes three points against the Italians
In their first home match of the 2016-2017 Europa League campaign against the Italian side Sassuolo by 3 goals to 1. Genk’s goals came from Karells on 9 minutes Bailey on 26 minutes and Buffel on 62 minutes.
The result could have been very different had the referee not given a free kick outside the box rather than a penalty for a Walsh foul that was inside.
Politano’s 66th minute goal gave the team currently 9th in the Italian league fresh hope.
However, it proved too little, too late and the match ended 3-1 in KRC Genk’s favour. The result sees Genk top Group F on goal difference. After 2 games like the other three teams in the group, the Limburgers have 3 points.
First half Ajax goal dashes Standard’s hopes
Despite a strong second half performance Standard de Liège were unable to take anything in the way of points from their trip to Amsterdam where they took on Ajax.
The only goal of the match fell in the first half when Ajax’s young Dane Dolberg (18) scored on 29 minutes.
The result sees Standard 3rd in Group G with 1 point from 2 games Ajax top the group with 6 points.
The match was marred by some unruly behaviour on the part of the Standard fans.
They burned smoke grenades throughout much of the match and allegedly set fire to a toilet in the visitors’ stand of the Amsterdam Arena.
Last minute goal dashes Anderlecht’s hopes
Despite being given a penalty on a plate by the Russian referee, Sporting Anderlecht were unable to take all three points from their away game against the French side Saint-Etienne.
The two teams were pretty evenly matched and the score remained goalless until Youri Tielemans scored from the penalty spot on 63 minutes.
However, a costly misunderstanding between the Anderlecht defender Bram Nuytinck and keeper Davy Roef allowed Roux to equalise for Saint-Etienne in the final minute of stoppage time.
Nevertheless Anderlecht still top Group C on goal difference and have 4 points from 2 games. Saint-Etienne have 2 points.
