Football
ESPN staff 7y

Milan hit six in Europa League playoff, Everton earn win amid violent scenes

New signing Andre Silva scored twice to help AC Milan to a 6-0 romp over Shkendija in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie at the San Siro on Thursday.

Silva, 21, netted both of his goals inside the opening half-hour, while Riccardo Montolivo added a pair of his own and Fabio Borini and Luca Antonelli also scored as Milan put one foot in the group stage.

Silva jumped on a loose ball to score his first competitive goal for Milan in the 13th minute, before Montolivo added his first goal in three years with a tap-in on 25 minutes.

It was 3-0 three minutes later when Silva fought past two defenders and finished low into the corner of the net.

Milan kept up the attack after the break, and Borini -- on hand after Silva's shot came right to him -- added his first Milan goal, and Antonelli added a fifth less than a minute later.

Montolivo added his second and Milan's fifth with five minutes to play after receiving a pass from Ignazio Abate.

Everton hold a 2-0 lead in their playoff tie against Hajduk Split after a first leg at Goodison Park that had to be temporarily stopped due to crowd trouble in the away section.

Play was halted for a few minutes in the first half when trouble flared, missiles being thrown and supporters moving towards the pitch shortly after Michael Keane's 30th-minute header had put the hosts in front.

After stewards and police had moved to bring the situation under control, the players returned to the pitch and Everton doubled their lead in the 45th minute thanks to Idrissa Gueye's strike.

Ajax will have to overturn a 1-0 defeat at home to Rosenborg after Samuel Adegbenro scored the only goal for the Norwegian side in the 77th minute.

Fenerbahce also suffered a surprise defeat, 2-0 away to Macedonia's Vardar.

The minnows already led through Tigran Barseghyan's first-half goal, and though Boban Grncarov was sent off in the 89th minute, a Mehmet Topal own goal doubled the hosts' lead, and Souza was dismissed for the Turkish giants late on.

Athletic Bilbao rallied from two goals down to escape Panathinaikos with a 3-2 win.

After Robin Lod and Bryan Cabezas had put the Greek side ahead, Aritz Aduriz started the comeback in the 68th minute before Oscar de Marcos equalised three minutes later.

Aduriz then gave them the lead from the penalty spot after Rodrigo Moledo brought down Inaki Williams.

The other Greek sides fared better as Aleksandar Prijovic's brace led PAOK to a 3-1 home win over Oestersunds, and AEK Athens managed a goalless draw away to Club Brugge despite Marko Livaja being sent off.

Marseille took a slim edge with an away goal in a 1-1 draw at Domzale, Morgan Sanson equalising on 63 minutes for the French club.

Braga also came from to beat FH 2-1 in Iceland through goals from Paulinho and Nikola Stojiljkovic, while fellow Portuguese side Martimo held Dynamo Kiev to a 0-0 draw.

Zenit St. Petersburg opened the playoff round on Wednesday with a 1-0 loss away to Utrecht.

Click here for all the scores from the playoff round first leg.

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