FC Metalist Kharkiv

      Trabzonspor 3-1 FC Metalist Kharkiv

      Two late goals earned 10-man Trabzonspor the win they needed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League by beating Metalist Kharkiv 3-1.The Turkish hosts led through Essaid Belkalem's strike but an equaliser from Volodymyr Homenyuk and the dismissal of Carl Medjani threatened to undo their hard work.However, Mehmet Ekici fired Trabzonspor back in front late on with Sefa Yilmaz then making sure of the win to seal a top-two finish in Group L for Trabzonspor with a match to spare. It seemed as if neither side wanted the points when the match kicked off, with the crowd forced to sit through a drab opening 30 minutes.However, Trabzonspor finally got their noses in front nine minutes before the interval thanks to Belkamel, who rose to meet a corner from Ekici and headed in from close range.Metalist, who had lost their previous four group matches, had done nothing to inspire in the first half but that changed after the break, with Pavlo Rebenok firing over the bar and Yuriy Tkachuk curling a shot narrowly past the right post soon after in a lively opening spell.Visiting goalkeeper Oleksandr Goryainov was then brought back into the action to deal with a right-footed effort from Ekici, who teed up Oscar Cardozo soon after for a chance which the Paraguayan headed wide.But it was Metalist who found the back of the net after 68 minutes. Rebenok supplied the cross from the left wing for Homenyuk to tuck the ball into the bottom right corner.Things took a further turn for the worse for Trabzonspor in the 78th minute when Medjani was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Sergei Pshenichnikh.Yet instead of capitulating, the home side met the challenge head on and Ekici got the goal his performance deserved four minutes from time, picking up a pass from Yilmaz before finding the mark with a low shot from 20 yards.Yilmaz then added his name to the scoresheet in stoppage time, stabbing home from close range to put the result beyond doubt.ends
      • 9Y
      • PA Sport

        Legia Warsaw 2-1 FC Metalist Kharkiv

        The status quo remains at the top and bottom of Europa League Group L after Legia Warsaw beat Metalist Kharkiv 2-1 to qualify for the knockout stages, but the unbeaten home side were pushed all the way by their visitors.Victory means the home side are on 12 points with four wins from four, with third-placed Lokeren on four after drawing with Trabzonspor. The result in Belgium also means Metalist cannot go through.Coming into the match at the Pepsi Arena Legia were heavy favourites, however, it was the home side who took the lead through Vasili Kobin's first-half overhead kick.Legia did not really get going throughout the contest but were level before the break through Marek Saganowski, with Ondrej Duda, the matchwinner in the first encounter, netting the winner six minutes from time.The result was harsh on the Ukrainian side who had the better chances in Poland, but they now cannot qualify for the knockout stages after second-placed Trabzonspor moved on to seven points after drawing at Lokeren with two matches remaining.Legia made a bright start with Michal Kucharczyk twice having efforts on target inside the opening five minutes.However they fell behind after 22 minutes in spectacular fashion. Kobin was quick to react to a bouncing ball in the box and the 29-year-old produced a tremendous overhead kick which flew into the top corner of Dusan Kuciak's net.Michael Zyro tried to find an instant response but his 20-yard effort was held by Vladimir Disljenkovic.But, just seven minutes after the opener the hosts were level when Kucharczyk's inswinging corner from the left was headed home by Saganowski from close range.After the break, Disljenkovic once again showed safe hands by denying Saganowski, but both sides struggled to create clear cut chances.Metalist forced a couple of corners as the match came to a conclusion, but against the run of play the home side took the lead when Duda drilled a shot into the corner of the net in the 84th minute.ends
        • 9Y
        • PA Sport

        2023-24 UEFA Europa League Standings

        TeamGPWDLGDP
        West Ham United6501+615
        SC Freiburg6402+1012
        Olympiacos6213-37
        TSC Backa Topola6015-131