The Nation Newspaper

Tag: UEFA Europa League

  • Chelsea beat Arsenal to win UEFA Europa League

    Eden Hazard scored two goals and made another to help Chelsea thump London rivals Arsenal in Baku and win the 2018/2019 UEFA Europa League.

    Victory gave Blues boss Maurizio Sarri the first trophy of his managerial career and ensured the Gunners will miss out on next season’s UEFA Champions League.

    With only about 5,000 fans from both sides able to make it to Azerbaijan, there was an eerie atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, which appeared less than half full.

    That was the surreal setting for a match played 2,500 miles away from both teams’ home, and the game itself was devoid of action before the break before bursting into life early in the second half.

    Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud broke the deadlock when he met Emerson’s clipped cross with a powerful near-post header that zipped past Petr Cech.

    Cech, also facing his old side and playing the final match of his career, could do nothing about Chelsea’s second goal either, with Pedro sweeping home a Hazard cross.

    Hazard made it 3-0 from the penalty spot soon after, sending Cech the wrong way after Ainsley Maitland-Niles fouled Giroud.

    Read Also: Breaking: UEFA Europa League Final: Arsenal, Chelsea release starting XI

    Substitute Alex Iwobi briefly gave Arsenal hope with a powerful first-time strike moments after coming on.

    But Hazard quickly made sure of victory, playing a one-two with Giroud and firing home Chelsea’s fourth goal.

    The Belgium forward said after the game it was likely to be his Chelsea “goodbye” as he continues to be linked to Real Madrid.

    Chelsea’s triumph brought them their fifth European title and their first since they won the Europa League in Amsterdam in 2013.

    An emotional Sarri celebrated with his players on the pitch, but his future remains in doubt despite ending his first season at Stamford Bridge on a successful note.

    BBCSports

     

  • Chelsea beat Slavia 4-3 to book Europa League last-four place

    Chelsea reached the UEFA Europa League semi-finals by beating Slavia Prague 4-3, helped by a Pedro double on Thursday.

    Pedro led Chlesea’s first half onslaught before withstanding the Czech’s comeback bid after the break in a pulsating game.

    The London side were cruising 4-1 at half-time but Slavia Prague added two goals early in the second period.

    Two powerful strikes by Petr Sevcik, narrowed the aggregate score to 5-3.

    The London side had won the first leg 1-0.

    Sevcik spurned a chance to cut the deficit further before Chelsea held on to see out the win and set up a semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

    The German side won 2-0 against Benfica to go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate scoreline.

    Chelsea raced into a 3-0 lead within 17 minutes, starting with Pedro chipping goalkeeper Ondrej Kolar.

    The Spain winger hit the post four minutes later only for the ball to rebound into the face of Simon Deli and into the net for an own goal.

    Pedro carved out Chelsea’s third when he squared for a simple finish by Olivier Giroud and the scurrying Spaniard claimed Chelsea’s fourth goal in the 27th minute.

    A minute earlier, Slavia’s captain Tomas Soucek had given the boisterous Czech fans something to cheer at Stamford Bridge when he powered in a header from a corner kick.

    A Chelsea triumph in the UEFA Europa League, a trophy they won in 2013, would provide a way back into the UEFA Champions League.

    This will be if they finish outside the English Premier League (EPL) top four this season.

    They currently sit fifth on the league table.(Reuters/NAN)

  • Europa League: A gift to Arsenal, Chelsea fans – StarTimes

    StarTimes Nigeria on Tuesday revealed that adding the UEFA Europa League competition to its list of football offerings is simply a gift to fans of Arsenal and Chelsea Football clubs who also happen to be its subscribers.

    In a statement on Tuesday, Kunmi Balogun, the company’s Public Relations Manager described the surprise move as “simply a gift to all our subscribers for their love and for sticking with StarTimes and for Chelsea and Arsenal fans who have been wondering how to watch the games on Thursday”.

    According to him, “We have signed a 3-year exclusive broadcast rights of the Europa League across sub-Saharan Africa. This means that our 10 million plus subscribers all over Africa can enjoy the games from the comfort of their homes or on the StarTimes mobile app, because they deserve it”

    The company had on September 1 announced a crash in subscription fee of its classic bouquet, reviewing the price downward to N1,900 from N2,600, a move which received many positive reactions from subscribers across the country.

    StarTimes is the leading digital TV operator in Africa, serving nearly 20 million users with a signal covering the whole continent and a massive distribution network of 200 brand halls, 3,000 convenience stores and 5,000 distributors.

  • Suffering is part of my job – Wenger

    Suffering is part of my job – Wenger

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says suffering is all part of being a manager and admits he has had his fair share of late.

    Yet the smile returned to the Frenchman’s face on Friday after his side snapped a four-match losing streak to beat AC Milan 2-0 in the San Siro the previous evening.

    Arsenal closed in on the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League.

    “Any manager will tell you that when you don’t get results the first thing affected is the mood, the lack of sleep,” Wenger said.

    “I’ve managed in 820 or so Premier League games and 200 odd European games but there is no possibility not to suffer. You have to suffer. You have to be capable to go through periods when it’s very difficult.”

    Wenger’s future at Arsenal, where he has been in charge since 1996, has been a source of constant debate.

    His team are down in sixth place in the English Premier League, having suffered a 3-0 thrashing by Manchester City in the English League Cup final.

    He says he has had messages of support from past and current managers, even old adversary Alex Ferguson, and that finding solutions to problems remains an addictive part of the job.

    “The desire to find solutions is interesting as well,” he said. “When you are a young manager you think you can win every game but it’s not like that. It is to survive the disappointments. It can make you a better manager.”

    Wenger says money and ‘starification’ has become too important in football.

    “At the end of the day I have to stand up for what is important for the club,” he said. “I am thankful that I have respect in the game. Football is first about values but my regret is that has gone underwater.”

    Wenger says some of the recent criticism aimed at himself and his players have been over the top.

    “We have to have a little perspective. We got to a Cup final and we fight to be in a Cup final,” the 68-year-old said. “We played against the best team in the country.

    “We have been in four finals in the last five years and lost once, against Man City who is the best team in the country. So, it’s surprising the intensity the storm the players have faced.”

    Arsenal face Watford on Sunday with their hopes of a top-four finish hanging by a thread, as they trail fourth-placed Tottenham by 13 points.

    They will be without injured Alexandre Lacazette and Hector Bellerin against Watford while Sead Kolasinac is a doubt with an ankle problem.

    NAN

  • Kehinde Fatai’s club advances in Europa League

    Kehinde Fatai’s club advances in Europa League

    Kehinde Fatai’s Czech Republic club Sparta Prague has qualified for the next stage of the UEFA Europa League following a 1-0 win over Asteras Tripolis on Thursday.

    Asteras Tripolis of Greece lies third on four points, africanFootball.com reports.

    Sparta Prague is second in Group K with nine points behind Schalke 04 on 11 points with a round of games to spare.

    Fatai, who has netted twice in Europa League this season, was in action for 80 minutes before he was replaced by Tiemoko Kanote.

    Sparta only goal was scored in the 33rd minute through Jakub Brabec.