Europa League review: Wolves and Arsenal both win but Manchester United fail to impress

By Sporting Life

Football

Thu October 03, 2019 · 5y ago

Willy Boly wrote his name into Wolves folklore as his stoppage-time goal snatched Wolves a 1-0 victory against Besiktas in the Europa League in Istanbul.

Thursday Europa League results

Wolves late show in Istanbul

Willy Boly wrote his name into Wolves folklore as his stoppage-time goal snatched Wolves a 1-0 victory against Besiktas in the Europa League in Istanbul.

The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw but the big defender was on hand to score a goal befitting of a striker rather than a centre half.

Ruben Neves floated a ball over the top of the home defence and Boly took a touch before turning and firing the ball past Loris Karius, who smacked the pitch in frustration afterwards.

The goal ensured Wolves were off the mark in this season's competition, having been beaten at home by Braga last month, and gave the club its first win in European football for almost exactly 39 years.

🐺🙌 Sensational scenes in the away end as Willy Boly sends 1,000 travelling Wolves fans wild in stoppage-time! #WWFC pic.twitter.com/U2nSv0He32
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 3, 2019

Poor Red Devils limp to goalless stalemate

Manchester United's alarming slump continued as another poor and predictable performance saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side stumble to a goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

After starting his reign with a club-record nine successive away wins in all competitions, Solskjaer's subsequent wait for a victory on the road stretched to a 10th match on ADO Den Haag's plastic pitch.

March's jaw-dropping Champions League last-16 win at Paris St Germain remains the last time United triumphed away from Old Trafford - a stage and performance that was a far cry from Thursday's tepid display against AZ.

The tired, artificial pitch in The Hague did not help Solskjaer's men in this Group L encounter, but their lack of attacking creativity and coherence was a bigger issue for the much-changed visitors.

😴 Another thrilling night to be a Man United fan.

No shots on target in a goalless draw at AZ Alkmaar. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/FPbZav3see
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 3, 2019

Gunners cruise to 4-0 victory

Arsenal secured another comfortable Europa League victory with Gabriel Martinelli leading the way as Unai Emery's youngsters again seized the chance to impress against Standard Liege.

Bukayo Saka stole the headlines in the recent win at Eintracht Frankfurt and has since progressed into the Gunners' Premier League side, with Emery making 10 changes from the draw at Manchester United for the 4-0 success here.

Martinelli, who scored twice on his first start for the club in last week's Carabao Cup win over Nottingham Forest, repeated the feat with another double in three first-half minutes before Joe Willock and Dani Ceballos completed the rout.

Celtic avenge Champions League defeat

Celtic extracted retribution from Cluj with a commanding 2-0 Europa League win at Parkhead.

The Hoops were knocked out of the Champions League qualifiers on aggregate by the Romanian outfit in August, following a shock 4-3 home defeat, but this time they found Celtic a different proposition.

French striker Odsonne Edouard headed in the opener in the 20th minute as the Scottish champions dominated amid cascading rain.

Attacker Mohamed Elyounoussi added a second on the hour mark with a deflected drive to confirm a well-deserved win

Rangers lose at the Wankdorf

Christian Fassnacht scored a last-gasp winner for Young Boys as Rangers left the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf empty-handed following a 2-1 Europa League defeat.

Rangers looked comfortable on the artificial surface in an open first half and broke the deadlock in the 44th minute when Alfredo Morelos shook off a defender and darted into the box before sliding the ball into the net.

It took Young Boys just five minutes of the second half to level things up as Roger Assale fired in from close range.

And the hosts broke Rangers hearts deep into added time when Fassnacht fired in to snatch all three points.

All four teams in Group G now have three points apiece after Feyenoord beat Porto in the pool's other game.