Roma, Sociedad, Fenerbahce and Ajax all struggle by means of

February 20, 2025 Trending News

The eight remaining spots have been crammed forward of the Europa League last-16.

Eight second legs came about throughout Thursday night and a few of the competitors’s favourites had been dumped out on the first knockout stage.

In the important thing battles throughout the continent, Galatasaray had been seeking to struggle again from a heavy deficit in opposition to Dutch aspect AZ Alkmaar.

Roma had been combating to make their house benefit depend in opposition to Porto.

And Ajax merely wanted to see out their match at house to progress.

Learn on to see how the massive video games went down and each consequence within the Europa League.

Galatasaray 2-2 (3-6) AZ Alkmaar

♥️ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬!#AZAlkmaar #galaz #UEL #TheFutureIsOurs pic.twitter.com/3UluXErU39

— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) February 20, 2025

Galatasaray and AZ Alkmaar performed out an exhilarating 2-2 attract Turkey, however the Dutch aspect comfortably progressed on mixture.

The guests took the lead within the first half by means of Seiya Maikuma, albeit with an enormous slice of luck. The AZ attacker was tackled contained in the field, however the ball rebounded off his leg and trickled previous the helpless goalkeeper.

Regardless of Galatasaray dominating possession, AZ’s counter-attacking risk remained a relentless hazard. The house aspect struggled to create clear-cut possibilities, with a Cuesta cross-shot going simply over the bar of their greatest try earlier than the break.

AZ doubled their benefit early within the second half when substitute Denso Kasius unleashed a shocking long-range strike. The purpose all however ended Galatasaray’s hopes of a miraculous comeback, however the hosts refused to surrender.

Victor Osimhen pulled one again within the 56th minute with a thunderous half-volley after a pinpoint lengthy ball from Lucas Torreira. The Turkish aspect saved pushing ahead, they usually discovered an equaliser within the seventieth minute. Baris Alper Yilmaz squared the ball throughout the field for Roland Sallai, whose low strike sneaked underneath the AZ goalkeeper.

Regardless of the draw, AZ’s first-leg benefit ensured their secure passage into the subsequent spherical.

Roma 3-2 Porto (4-3)

🔚 Finisce così, vinciamo noi grazie ai gol di Dybala (doppietta) e Pisilli.

🔜 Siamo agli ottavi di finale di Europa League. E domani, ore 13, il sorteggio. #RomaPorto #UEL pic.twitter.com/ewTFdwNFRl

— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 20, 2025

Roma secured their place within the Europa League final 16 with a 3-2 victory over Porto on the Stadio Olimpico, sealing a 4-3 mixture win.

Paulo Dybala was the star of the evening, scoring twice to encourage his aspect previous a lacklustre Porto, who completed the sport with 10 males.

The match started with each groups cautiously feeling one another out, nevertheless it was Porto who struck first within the twenty seventh minute.

Samu produced a second of magic, executing a shocking overhead kick that soared into the highest nook to offer the guests the lead. Nonetheless, their benefit was short-lived, as Dybala responded simply eight minutes later.

Combining brilliantly with Eldor Shomurodov, the Argentine utilized a deft end with the surface of his boot to degree the rating. 4 minutes later, Dybala struck once more, weaving previous defenders earlier than firing previous Diogo Costa on the close to submit to place Roma forward simply earlier than half-time.

Porto’s hopes of a comeback took a significant blow within the 51st minute when Stephen Eustaquio acquired a straight pink card for a violent push on Leandro Paredes.

Roma capitalised on their numerical benefit, dominating possession and creating a number of possibilities. Niccolo Pisilli sealed the win within the 83rd minute with a composed end. Porto grabbed a late comfort purpose as Devyne Rensch inadvertently turned the ball into his personal web, nevertheless it was too little, too late.

Roma now flip their consideration to the spherical of 16, the place a conflict in opposition to both Lazio or Athletic Membership awaits.

Ajax 1-2 (3-2) Union St.Gilloise

Into the final 16! ❌❌❌#UEL #ajausg pic.twitter.com/AOMsxoHgII

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) February 20, 2025

Ajax secured a hard-fought victory over Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, profitable 3-2 on mixture after a dramatic 120 minutes in Amsterdam.

USG, trailing from the primary leg, produced a shocking first-half efficiency to degree the tie.

Kevin Mac Allister opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute with a well-placed header, earlier than Promise David transformed a penalty within the twenty seventh minute following Davy Klaassen’s pink card for handball on the purpose line.

The Belgian aspect dominated possession, however Ajax held on to take the sport into additional time.

USG continued to push ahead, however they did not capitalise on a number of promising alternatives, with Ajax’s Remko Pasveer making essential saves to maintain his aspect within the sport.

The decisive second got here within the 93rd minute of additional time when Kenneth Taylor coolly slotted house a penalty after Burgess was penalised for handball, restoring Ajax’s mixture lead.

USG launched a relentless late assault, with Pasveer making an excellent last-second save and defenders scrambling to clear an effort off the road in stoppage time.

Anderlecht 2-2 (2-5) Fenerbahce

Yusuf Akçiçek! 💪 pic.twitter.com/Q6RSZhrBm3

— Fenerbahçe English (@Fenerbahce_EN) February 20, 2025

Fenerbahce secured their place within the last-16 of the Europa League with a 2-2 draw in opposition to Anderlecht, sealing a 5-2 mixture victory.

The Turkish aspect struck first simply 5 minutes in, capitalising on a defensive error from Lucas Hey. Edin Dzeko intercepted a weak move earlier than selflessly squaring the ball for Youssef En-Nesyri to complete into an empty web.

The purpose all however ended Anderlecht’s hopes of a miraculous comeback. The match was briefly halted on account of crowd hassle, however play resumed with the Belgian aspect chasing the sport.

Anderlecht discovered a lifeline within the nineteenth minute when Fenerbahce goalkeeper Ertugrul Taşkıran botched a clearance, permitting Luis Vazquez to pounce and equalise.

The house aspect carried their momentum into the second half, and within the fifty fifth minute, Thorgan Hazard’s intelligent play arrange Vazquez for his second purpose, briefly reigniting Anderlecht’s hopes.

Nonetheless, Fenerbahce remained composed and delivered the decisive blow within the 63rd minute. Milan Skriniar’s header from a nook was nodded house by Yusuf Akcicek to revive parity and successfully kill the tie.