Hello my name is Thomas Davies-Crisp and I will be covering all of the 5:45pm Europa league playoff games here this evening. I will be focusing on the Feyenoord vs Roma game but will be commenting on key events that have happened in the other three games.
The teams are out for the hosts, here’s how they line up tonight:
And now Roma’s line up has been announced, here’s how they line up:
Only one change for Feyenoord tonight with Bart Nieuwkoop in for Lutsharel Geertruida Five changes for Roma tonight as second top scorer of the tournament Romelu Lukaku leads the line for Roma tonight.
0′ The teams are in there respective huddles as the game is about to kick off, both sets of crowds are ready for what should be an intense game.
1′ And the game has kicked off.
2′ Yankuba Minteh runs at Leonardo Spinazolla but doesn’t beat the Italian.
3′ A very lively start from both teams, this game definitely has goals in it.
4′ Ueda goes down in the Roma penalty box but the referee waves it away.
6′ Minteh closes Mile Svilar down and is called for a foul but he’ll feel he’s been done harshly there as he has every right to go for the ball.
8′ First shot and the first corner of the game goes to Roma. Paulo Dybala runs at Feyenoord and lays it off to Lukaku on the edge of the box, he kays it off to Bove who’s shot is blocked and diverts for a Roma corner.
10′ What a run from Dybala that was. he playas it into Pellegrini who rounds the keeper but his shot is headed off the line by the captain David Hancko.
13′ Calvin Stengs has a shot blocked on the edge of the Roma box and is cleared for Feyenoord’s first corner of the game.
14′ First yellow of the game is awarded to Thomas Beelen (certainty not the last), Lukaku runs off of him and his heading into the Feyenoord box but is brought down just outside of it. a great chance here for Roma to take the lead.
16′ The free kick from Pellegrini hit’s the top of the wall and goes out for a corner.
17′ CHANCE. The chance falls to Roma and to Lukaku. The ball is played into Lukaku’s head as he diverts it goalward but unfortunately for him it straight at Timon Wellenreuther.
19′ Feyenoord win the ball back in Roma’s half, they work it down the right and side and get a corner out of it.
21′ WHAT A MISS. Igor Paixao does all the hard work. Feyenoord wins the ball back high in their half and the ball is played into Stengs who plays it into Paixao who gets passed one, then two and then a third Roma defender but he shoots just wide. Should be 1-0 Feyenoord.
There’s been a goal in Turkey and its gone to Galatasaray, Kerem Demirbay has scored for the hosts. 1-0 Galatasaray
24′ A decent chance for Feyenoord. Mats Wieffer is given the ball in Roma’s half and drives forward, he shoots outside the box but it’s a comfortable save for Svilar.
26′ WHAT WAS HE THINKING. Nicola Zalewski finds himself in ample space on the left and drives into the box, but he squares it awfully to Lukaku and the pass is intercepted and cleared.
27′ CHANCE. It falls to Feyenoord. Wieffer whips the pass into the back post, Paixao see’s it late and tries his best, his attempt is goalward but doesn’t trouble Svilar.
There’s been a goal in Switzerland and its fallen to the Portuguese side and it’s an own goal by Aurele Amenda. 1-0 Sporting CP
33′ Feyenoord work the ball forward and the ball finds it’s way to Minteh who shoots aiming for the far left side of the goal but his shot is blocked and the ball is cleared.
34′ A second yellow and it goes to Minteh for a trailing arm in the face of Zalewski admittedly it was a harsh one.
36′ A speculative effort from Wieffer but his shot is pulled left.
40′ WHAT A SAVE. The ball ends up at Parades’ feet 25-30 yards out, he slices it and is destined for the top right corner but Wellenreuther pulls off a wonder save onto the crossbar to keep it at 0-0.
There’s been a second goal in Switzerland and the away side have doubled their lead from the penalty spot with Viktor Gyokeres converting it. 2-0 Sporting CP.
And another, its three goals in Switzerland, but the third has gone to the hosts. Jaouen Hadjam pulls one back. 2-1 Sporting CP
45′ HUGE CHANCE. An out swinging corner from Dybala is met by Lukaku but his powerful header is straight at Wellenreuther.
47′ GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL. ITS PAIXAO. Hartman whips in a beautiful header which is met by an unmarked Paixao who gently nods it out of the reach of Svilar. It’s Paixao’s first European goal of the season. 1-0 Feyenoord.
48′ A late free kick here for Roma won by Dybala in a promising position.
48′ It’s a poor ball in claimed by Wellenreuther.
Half Time: It looked like both teams would of been going into the dressing rooms all even Paixao changes that with a brilliant header. This game has been very open and plenty of chances for both teams. I won’t be surprised if Roma pull one back but the next goal will be crucial here. Who do you think will score next?
45′ And Feyenoord kick us off for the second half.
46′ Third yellow is given to Diego Llorente after fouling Ayase Ueda on the edge of the box, what a chance this is for Feyenoord to extend the lead.
48′ The resulting free kick is blocked by the wall
There’s been a second in Turkey as Sparta Praha equalise through Angelo Preciado. 1-1.
It’s a third for Sporting as Goncalo Inacio restore their two goal lead. 3-1 Sporting CP.
52′ The ball finds it’s wat to Dybala but his shot is skied over the bar for a goal kick.
53′ Spinazolla wins a freekick in a good position for Roma to whip the ball in.
53′ The freekick comes to nothing and is cleared.
54′ CHANCE. the ball is played out wide to Spinazola who crosses it in to the box but Lukaku’s header is a poor one and its not timed well as it floats upwards for a goal kick.
57′ CHANCE. A good cross from Mancini but the resulting header from Zalewski is wide.
61′ Pressure is building here for Feyenoord, they have had a couple blocked shots now.
63′ First change of the game is to Roma
Galatasaray have taken the lead through a Ladislav Krejci own goal. 2-1 Galatasaray.
And now a red card for Galatasary with Viktor Nelsson being sent off
Marsielle have taken the lead through Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 1-0 Marseille
64′ Rick Karsdorp has a promising shot but is comfortably saved.
64′ Subs for Feyenoord.
An equaliser in Turkey for Sparta Praha, Jan Kuchta makes it 2-2.
67′ GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL. IT’S LUKAKU. The ball is whipped in and he scores a perfect glancing header into the far post, very similar to Paixao’s goal. 1-1.
Shakhtar Donetsk have equalised through Mykola Matviyenko makes it 1-1.
71′ Another substitute by Feyenoord.
72′ A great block Llorente denies Wieffer from getting his shot on goal.
76′ Chances are forming for both team here, I can see there being a winner in this game.
78′ Feyenoord prepare more subs to come on.
80′ Now Roma are preparing more substitutes.
82′ Svilar has pulled up for cramp, not sure the last time I saw a keeper pull up for cramp in a game, my guess is game management from Roma as they would be much the happier side to leave here with it being 1-1.
Another red in Turkey but this time for Sparta Praha, Matej Rynes with a second yellow.
86′ Another yellow, this time for Bove who now misses the second leg of this tie, how costly could that be?
87′ Roma subs.
89′ CHANCE. Santiago Giminez has a powerful shot well saved from inside the Roma box.
A red card over in Switzerland falls for Mohamed Ali Camara for a second bookable offence as Young Boys go down to 10.
90′ POST HAS BEEN HIT. Luka Ivanusec has hit the woodwork following a freekick. That could be the last chance of the game for either side.
Galatasaray have won it through Mauro Icardi. 3-2 Galatasaray.
Marsielle have taken the led through Illiman Ndiaye. 2-1 Marsielle.
And Shakhtar have equalised again, this time through Eguinaldo. 2-2
Full time scores elsewhere:
BSC Young Boys 1-3 Sporting CP
Shakhtar Donetsk 2-2 Marseille
Galatasaray 3-2 Sparta Praha
Full time: 1-1
And that’s that, after a scrappy game neither team could come out on top, chances aplenty for both sides. Feyenoord were the better side and could rue their missed chances but it’s all perfectly poised for the second leg over in the Italian capital.
