Europa League: Fenerbahce outclass Anderlecht; Ajax, Sociedad ...

8 days ago

China Daily

Europa League Fenerbahce outclass Anderlecht Ajax Sociedad

Turkiye's Fenerbahce beat Belgian side Anderlecht 3-0 in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff on Thursday as Ajax Amsterdam and Real Sociedad also secured victories.

Fenerbahce's Bosnian forward #09 Edin Dzeko (center left) and Anderlecht's Brazilian defender #34 Adryelson (center right) fight for the ball during the UEFA Europa League knockout phase play-off 1st leg football match between Fenerbahce SK and Anderlecht at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul, Turkyie, on Feb 13, 2025. (PHOTO / AFP)

ISTANBUL - Turkiye's Fenerbahce beat Belgian side Anderlecht 3-0 in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff on Thursday as Ajax Amsterdam and Real Sociedad also secured victories.

Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho, took an early lead through a close-range header from forward Dusan Tadic following a corner.

The hosts survived a scare when the referee consulted VAR about a potential penalty for handball, but it was not given and Edin Dzeko doubled their advantage before the break.

His initial strike was blocked by the Anderlecht defense before the Bosnian striker latched on to the rebound and struck a low shot into the corner of the net.

Morocco forward Youssef En-Nesyri sealed the win after the break with a fine header.

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Fenerbahce, unbeaten across all competitions since mid-December, took the last playoff spot available as they finished the league phase in 24th place and qualified on goal difference.

Anderlecht, coming off consecutive defeats in the competition by Hoffenheim and Viktoria Plzen, were 10th.

Real Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero clears the ball during the Europa League soccer match between FC Midtjylland and Real Sociedad at MCH Arena in Herning, Denmark, on Feb 13, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

Ajax, Sociedad earn first-leg lead

Sociedad, who reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season, earned a 2-1 win at Danish side Midtjylland.

Midfielder Brais Mendez put the LaLiga side ahead from the penalty spot before Japan forward Takefusa Kubo added a second with a shot from outside the area into the top corner.

The Danish hosts, who return to domestic action this weekend after more than a two-month winter break, pulled a goal back before the break through Poland striker Adam Buksa from close range.

The winners will face Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur in last 16.

Plzen's Prince Kwabena Adu (right) challenges for the ball with Ferencvaros' Raul Gustavo during a Europa League playoff first leg soccer match between Ferencvaros and Viktoria Plzen at the Groupama Arena stadium, in Budapest, Hungary, on Feb 13, 2025. (PHOTO / AP)

Ajax secured a 2-0 victory at Belgium's Union Saint-Gilloise, forward Christian Rasmussen and defender Jorthy Mokio scoring the goals in the second half.

The Dutch side lost three consecutive games in the competition before their home win over Galatasaray in the final round of league matches.

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Record 35-times Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, winners of the last six domestic league titles, beat Czech visitors Viktoria Plzen 1-0 to close in on a last-16 place.

Porto host AS Roma in one of the four later kickoffs.