Hello, I am James Butler and I will be providing a running live blog including all the 17:45 UEFA Europa League knockout games. I will be focusing on Feyenoord vs AS Roma whilst also providing updates about what’s happening in the other games. Feyenoord and Roma have a recent European history with the Italian giants beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the inaugural UECL final in 2022, the following season Roma knocked the Dutch side out of the same competition they are playing in tonight 4-2 in aggregate in the Quarter Finals.
Feyenoord will be hoping to get their revenge on a newly resurgent AS Roma who recently appointed club legend Danielle De Rossi as manager.
1′ We are underway at the Feyenoord Stadium De Kuip.
2′ Yankuba Minteh makes a dangerous run into the box but is dispossessed by Llorente.
3′ Ayase Ueda goes to the ground on the edge of the box however the referee plays on.
Embed from Getty Images6′ Minteh fouls Svilar on the edge of his six-yard box pressing intensely high up the pitch.
8′ Exciting build-up play by Roma as a shot from the edge of the box earns the first corner of the match.
10′ Great incision by Paulo Dybala to slot in Lorenzo Pellegrini who is smothered by a brave Timon Wellenreuther
Embed from Getty Images14′ Thomas Beelen brings down Romelu Lukaku just outside the box as he receives the first yellow card of the evening.
16′ Pellegrini tries to dip his free-kick over the wall but it is cleared for a corner.
17′ Dybala whips in an inviting cross which Lukaku meets, but directs straight at Wellenreuther.
20′ Igor Paixao weaves his way between Gianluca Mancini and Llorente into a shooting position but just drags it wide.
GOAL NEWS: Over in Turkey, Galatasaray takes the lead against Sparta Prague through Kerem Demirbay goal – His first in Europe for the club!
26′ Zelewski is played in by a beautiful diagonal ball, his decision-making lets him down as he gives possession away trying to square it to Lukaku.
27′ A delightful cross into the box drops to Paixao who snatches at the chance as Svilar catches with no bother.
30′ We have reached the half-hour mark here in Rotterdam still goalless with Roma having the better chances in an end-to-end game.
Embed from Getty ImagesGOAL NEWS: Sporting CP takes the lead in Switzerland against Young Boys courtesy of an Aurele Amenda own goal!
35′ Minteh receives the second yellow of the night committing a foul on Pellegrini.
40′ UNBELIEVABLE SAVE! A cracking 30-yard out strike by Leandro Paredes is tipped onto the bar by Wellenreuther.
GOAL NEWS: Sporting double their lead from the penalty spot as Viktor Gyorekes grabs his 19th goal of the season!
GOAL NEWS: Instant response from Young Boys! Filip Ugrinic pulls one back for the Swiss outfit.
45′ Dybala whips in an inviting corner which Lukaku rises to but again… it is straight at Wellenreuther.
45+1′ GOAL!!!!! A terrific header by Paixao as he slips in between Llorente and Spinazzola to meet Quilindschy Hartman’s pinpoint cross.
45+4′ Half Time in Rotterdam as Feyenoord snatch the lead right on the stroke of the end of the half. An enticing 45 minutes of football which saw both sides have some great chances and I’m hoping we continue to see more of that in what should be an intense second half.
As we approach the start of the second half, will Roma dig deep and find a way back? Or will Feyenoord cruise towards a first-leg advantage to take to the Italian capital?
46′ We’re back underway here in the Dutch capital, let’s hope we see more of what we did in that first half.
48′ Ueda draws a foul in a dangerous position just on the edge of the box. Llorente goes into the book.
GOAL NEWS: Sparta Prague has found an equaliser against Galatasaray via Angelo Preciado!
GOAL NEWS: Sporting extend their lead over Young Boys through centre-back Goncalo Inacio!
51′ Dybala strikes one from outside the box but it just rises too high from the target.
54′ Spinazzola whips in a dangerous cross as Lukaku guides his third header of the night over the bar.
GOAL NEWS: Dries Mertens earns Galatasaray their lead back!
63′ Reinforcements for both sides as Minteh is replaced by Ondrej Lingr alongside Ueda who is swapped for Mexican talisman Santiago Gimenez. AS Roma have subbed out Zalewski for Stephen El Shaarawy.
RED CARD: Victor Nelsson has been sent off for Galatasaray 2 minutes after their goal!
GOAL NEWS: PIERRE EMERICK AUBAMEYANG! HE’S EQUALED THE RECORD! Marseille lead away at Shakhtar!
GOAL NEWS: Jan Kuchta grabs an imminent equaliser for Sparta Prague against Galatasaray!
67′ GOAL!!!!! THE EQUALISER!!!!! A delightful cross from Spinazzola meets Lukaku as the ball ricochets off his shoulder past Wellenreuther.
GOAL NEWS: Shakhtar with an instant response! Mykola Matvienko levels the tie 4 minutes after Marseille took the lead!
71′ Luka Ivanusec replaces Calvin Stengs minutes after he’s booked.
74′ Feyenoord attack with promise as Gimenez attempts the spectacular, followed by a Wieffer thunderstrike which is blocked and then deflected off the referee for a drop ball.
Embed from Getty Images78′ More substitutions for Feyenoord. Nieuwkoop is withdrawn for Givairo Read and Paixao is replaced by Antoni Milambo.
RED CARD: MATEJ RYNES! He has received a second yellow card and leaves the field making play now a 10v10.
86′ Bove receives a yellow card for a foul on Lingr, meaning he will miss the return fixture in Rome. He now has been replaced alongside Dybala for Bryan Cristante and Tommaso Baldanzi.
88′ Sublime save by Svilar to parry away Gimenez’s powerful strike.
Embed from Getty ImagesRED CARD: MOHAMED CAMARA! He receives his second yellow card for Young Boys.
90+1′ Ivanusec strikes a cheeky whipped freekick towards Svilar’s near post and it just rattles the woodwork!
GOAL NEWS: Iliman Ndiaye has given Marseille a 90th-minute lead!
GOAL NEWS: MAURO ICARDI HAS SURELY WON IT FOR GALATASARAY! They lead 3-2!
GOAL NEWS: SHAKHTAR PULL IT BACK! Minutes after Ndiaye thought he had won it Eguinaldo equalised!
90+6′ A great chance for Feyenoord to snatch it at the death as Lingr drives into the box but his pass is intercepted.
FULL TIME! It ends level here at the De Kuip after an entertaining and end-to-end game which saw Feyenoord take the lead through a Paixao header on the stroke of half time after having the better chances. Roma came flying out of the traps in the second half and Lukaku’s equaliser was the least they deserved for their efforts, but it ends all square going back to the Stadio Olimpico with it being 1-1 and all to play for.
It ended elsewhere:
