Feyenoord wins, AZ loses, Netherlands celebrates coefficient party – Ten Hag swallows disappointment with United
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The quarterfinals of the Europa League and Conference League are on the program, featuring two Dutch clubs:
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Anderlecht goalkeeper Verbruggen: ‘Grateful to be on this stage’
With the reaction of Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen we conclude this blog. Against AZ, the 20-year-old goalkeeper confirmed his talent.
Tomorrow we will be back with Warming-up, our liveblog towards the soccer weekend. See you then!
Anderlecht goalkeeper Verbruggen: ‘Grateful to be on this stage’
Jansen lacks conviction at AZ: ‘At the moment we don’t score that easily’
Jansen lacks conviction at AZ: ‘At the moment we’re not scoring so easily’
Szczęsny off with a scare
Just before halftime in Turin, an emotional Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny had to be substituted against Sporting because he was thought to have become unwell. In tears and with his hand on his chest, the Pole left the pitch. Moments later, his club announced that some checks showed that he was doing well.
Reijnders says there was more in it for AZ: ‘Twice not sharp, then it hangs’
According to Reijnders, there was more in it for AZ: ‘Twice not sharp, then it hangs’
United hands out victory in closing stages, Van den Brom goes down hard with Lech Poznan
Coach Erik ten Hag is far from certain of a place in the semifinals of the Europa League with Manchester United. An entertaining home match against Sevilla ended in a 2-2 draw due to two late goals.
In the Conference League, coach John van den Brom experienced a particularly unpleasant evening: his Lech Poznan lost the first game in the quarter-finals to Fiorentina no less than 4-1 in their own stadium.
Manchester United – Sevilla FC 2-2
Juventus – Sporting CP 1-0
Bayer Leverkusen – Union 1-1
Lech Poznan – Fiorentina 1-4
Coefficient party complete: additional Champions League ticket for the Netherlands in 2024
It was already looking good after Feyenoord’s victory over AS Roma and is now completely certain after Sporting CP’s 1-0 defeat against Juventus: based on the UEFA coefficient list, the Netherlands can count on two direct starting tickets for the Champions League from the 2024/2025 season.
That means that next season the Netherlands will compete for a total of three Champions League tickets. After all, the number three of the 2023/2024 premier league season will advance to the third preliminary round of the billion-dollar ball.
Finished in Brussels: weak first half breaks AZ sour in away game
AZ is still far away from the semi-finals in the Conference League. Especially a weak first half did the Alkmaar players in the out game with Anderlecht: 2-0.
Good news in coed battle
Juventus takes a 1-0 lead against Portuguese Sporting through Federico Gatti. With these standings, the Netherlands is assured of a second direct ticket to the Champions League in 2024.
Juventus – Sporting CP 1-0
AND-AZ | 78′ Kerkez in side netting
AZ misses a great opportunity. Kerkez can lay the ball back to the free Reijnders, but decides to shoot. Sideset.
Slot experiences Feyenoord victory over AS Roma as ‘very pleasant’
Coach Arne Slot calls Feyenoord’s home victory over AS Roma (1-0) in the quarterfinals of the Europa League “a very pleasant result.”
“But we are far from there yet,” he warns. “You saw especially in the last 20 minutes how well they can play soccer. Next week there will be 70,000 people in the stands there, too.”
However next week’s away game at Stadio Olimpico ends, Slot feels that Feyenoord is once again counting in Europe. “Last year we played the final of the Conference League and now we are competing nicely in the Europa League,” said the successful coach. “And the way we play soccer in Europe, I think we deserve a compliment as well.”
Slot adamant: ‘In the Netherlands no penalty anyway, I’m very sure of that’
AND-AZ | 70′ GOAL ANDERLECHT!
AZ attacks and gets chances in the second half, but after a quick breakout Anderlecht scores through Majeed Ashimeru. The Ghanaian shoots hard and low into the corner.
Main striker Wieffer: ‘I always hear I should shoot more often’
Lead actor Wieffer: ‘I always hear I should shoot more often’
Wijnaldum pleased with applause at De Kuip
Georginio Wijnaldum is happy with the applause he received from the Feyenoord supporters when he was allowed to substitute for AS Roma at De Kuip after halftime. “That respect from the fans did me good,” the midfielder said. “That has been different before after I left for PSV.”
Born in Rotterdam, the 32-year-old Wijnaldum made his debut in Feyenoord’s first team at the age of 16. He has always followed his first professional club. “It’s strange to play against a club I support,” he said after a 1-0 defeat in the first game between the two clubs in the quarterfinals of the Europa League. “Still, I would have preferred to win here. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.”
Wijnaldum spoke of a painful evening. “I think both teams had few chances,” analyzed the midfielder, who has been leased to AS Roma by Paris Saint-Germain. “We missed a penalty in the closing stages of the first half. That’s part of soccer, but if we make a ball like that, maybe things will go differently.”
FA takes no action against linesman who handed out elbow
No further action will be taken against linesman Constantine Hatzidakis following an incident with Liverpool player Andy Robertson. This has been announced by the FA, the English Football Association.
Just after halftime a great chance for Pavlidis who failed to score face to face with Verbruggen.
Around fifteen minutes after halftime even a series of chances. First Beukema, whose shot is parried by a slide by Dreyer, then a header wide by Pavlidis and then Mijnans shoots completely free over.
AZ must change tack in the second half. Will it succeed? The ball is rolling again in Brussels.
Coach Mourinho is not awake to minor defeat at De Kuip
Coach José Mourinho does not take the narrow defeat of his AS Roma in the away game against Feyenoord (1-0) in the quarterfinals of the Europa League seriously, “I don’t sleep badly about this,” the Portuguese said. “We just have to put it right next week at Stadio Olimpico.”
“Playing soccer is mainly about scoring goals,” Mourinho said. “But we haven’t done that here. Last year we did score against Feyenoord in the Conference League final,” he was referring to a 1-0 win. “Then it was done. The disadvantage for Feyenoord is that we are only halfway through now.”
“It just wasn’t with us,” Mourinho said. “That missed penalty kick and ball on the crossbar. Dybala, Pellegrini and Abraham got injured. I don’t know yet how serious it all is. We have to wait and see.”
Mourinho doesn’t lie awake after defeat: ‘You have been crying for 10 months?’
Manchester United – Sevilla FC 2-0
Juventus – Sporting CP 0-0
Bayer Leverkusen – Union 0-0
Lech Poznan – Fiorentina 1-2
Anderlecht leads 1-0 against AZ. The Alkmaarers can create little danger themselves.
AND-AZ | 42′ Yellow for Pavlidis
The Greek striker hunts down Vertonghen well, but does so with a hard foul. It earns him yellow, the second yellow for AZ after an earlier card for Beukema.
AND-AZ | 36′ From long range
Pavlidis tries with a shot from about forty meters. Verbruggen caught that in time. The ball also goes high over.
AZ is not yet sharp in Brussels and this is evident in the duels, which are usually won by the home team.
AND-AZ | 24′ Direct chance for AZ
The Alkmaarers could equalize very quickly, but Mijnans and Van Brederode get in each other’s way. Sin.
AND-AZ | 22′ GOAL ANDERLECHT!
Michael Murillo beautifully kicks Anderlecht into the lead against AZ from a cross by Anders Dreyer.
Manchester United at 2-0 lead
Marcel Sabitzer put Erik ten Hag’s team ahead against Sevilla FC in the 14th minute and also made it 2-0 in the 21st minute. At United, Tyrell Malacia is in the starting line-up, Wout Weghort is on the bench.
AND-AZ | 1′ Verbruggen direct alert
Anderlecht’s goalkeeper comes out of his goal quickly to defuse an AZ attack.
The ball was rolling in the nearly sold-out Lotto Park, with over 20,000 spectators, including about 1,000 AZ fans.
Van den Brom writes history with Lech Poznan: ‘AZ we meet in final’
Lech Poznan takes on Italian Fiorentina at 9 p.m. in the Conference League quarterfinals. All of Poland is watching. For the first time since Legia Warsaw in the 1995/1996 Champions League season, a Polish team is in the last eight of a European tournament.
The coach behind this success is John van den Brom. “All of football-loving Poland is talking about this and that you get to play a part in it as a coach is obviously great,” the coach said.
9 p.m.: Manchester United – Sevilla FC
9 p.m.: Juventus – Sporting CP
9 p.m.: Bayer Leverkusen – Union
9 p.m.: Lech Poznan Fiorentina
9 p.m.: Anderlecht – AZ
9 p.m.: FC Basel – OGC Nice
AA Gent and West Ham balanced in Conference League
AA Gent and West Ham United balanced each other in the first match of the Conference League quarterfinals. The duel at the Ghelamco Arena between Belgium’s No. 4 and England’s No. 14 ended 1-1.
Although Gent was the better team before halftime, West Ham was more efficient. A first goal after a miss by goalkeeper Davy Roef was disallowed due to hands, but in injury time of the first half the visitors still took the lead. With West Ham’s first shot of the game, Danny Ings signed for the 1-0. Gent equalized after an hour through Hugo Cuypers.
The match will have been followed with special interest in Alkmaar. AZ will play Anderlecht in the quarterfinals of the Conference League. If Pascal Jansen’s team qualifies for the semi-finals, it will meet the winner of the encounter between Gent and West Ham.
Verbruggen, never in the premier league
Bart Verbruggen is warming up. The former NAC player never played in the premier league, but the 20-year-old Dutch goalkeeper will now take on the number four seed AZ in the Conference League quarterfinals.
Second CL ticket almost in
A second direct ticket to the Champions League for the 2024/2025 season has become even closer thanks to Feyenoord’s win. If AZ wins later against Anderlecht or Sporting loses at Juventus, it is already decided. Then the Netherlands cannot be overtaken on the sixth place of the coefficient rankings by Portugal.
Done at De Kuip: Feyenoord strikes first blow
After the thick tears in Tirana, Rotterdam’s revenge is now a reality. Almost a year after the lost Conference League final, Feyenoord dealt a first blow to AS Roma this time: 1-0. With a starring role for Mats Wieffer.
FEY-ROM | 90′ Four minutes remaining
Just four minutes of injury time remain from Feyenoord’s handsome 1-0 win over AS Roma in the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
FEY-ROM | 83′ Gimenez to the side
Santiago Gimenez, Feyenoord’s tastemaker in recent months, is replaced by Marcos López after an unremarkable performance. With Danilo for Jahanbakhsh, Arne Slot had earlier brought a new striker into the lines.
FEY-ROM | 78′ Feyenoord have to watch out
Roma occasionally get through easily, as just now with Nicola Zalewski. The Pole slaloms through the Feyenoord defense, then his shot is blocked.
FEY-ROM | 63′ Feyenoord escapes
From a corner Roger Ibañez kicks past the malfunctioning Bijlow on goal, but Dávid Hancko and especially Oussama Idrissi clear the ball off the line. Feyenoord escapes the equalizer.
It is the last action of Idrissi, who is replaced by Igor Paixão.
Anderlecht with Verbruggen
Lineup AZ: no Karlsson
Jesper Karlsson will not start for AZ in Brussels, where the team from Alkmaar will face Anderlecht in the quarter-finals of the Conference League. Coach Pascal Jansen has drafted Myron van Brederode as left winger.
Karlsson was missing last weekend’s league game with Sparta Rotterdam due to a minor injury, but the Swedish winger is back in the matchday squad for the European game, which starts at 9 p.m.
FEY-ROM | 54′ GOAL FEYENOORD!
Idrissi passes from the left after a good action and Wieffer takes the ball from outside the penalty area on his slipper in one go. As the stooping Jahanbakhsh obstructs goalkeeper Rui Patrício’s view, the ball flies precisely into the corner.
At Roma, ex-Feyenoord player Wijnaldum starts in the second half. Captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, the man of the missed penalty kick, remains behind in the dressing room. No changes at Feyenoord.
A playful action by the fans at De Kuip in the first half. No fireworks, no cups of beer, no lighters, but inflatable objects flew through the air on the stands.
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Ludic action by Feyenoord fans -
ANP
Ludic action by Feyenoord fans
At KAA Gent against West Ham United in the Conference League quarterfinals, a goal does fall on the stroke of half-time. Danny Ings put the Brits up 0-1 in Gent in injury time.
De Kuip reverberates with relief after Roma’s missed penalty kick.
Half-time score: Feyenoord – AS Roma 0-0
Pellegrini shoots the penalty kick on the post!
FEY-ROM | 42′ Penalty Kick Roma!
Wieffer gets the ball unhappily on his arm after a corner. Referee Sánchez resolutely points to the spot.
FEY-ROM | 40′ Again Szymanski
Again it is Szymanski who takes a shot. He wants to place the ball in the corner, but his effort goes wide. According to the Pole, the ball is touched by a Roman leg, and indeed it looks like that. Referee José María Sánchez says he saw it correctly and does not give a corner.
FEY-ROM | 28′ Scot Szymanski
After Roman danger at one end, Feyenoord quickly switch gears and Orkun Kökçü finds Sebastian Szymanski with a splitting pass. The Pole decides to shoot himself, where passing to Idrissi would have been a better option.
The pace quickens and the match goes up and down more and more. Now it is Geertruida who reports in front and shoots wide.
FEY-ROM | 25′ Roma loses Dybala
Setback for the Romans. Dybala has to leave the field injured. He seems to be suffering from his groin. Stephan El Shaarawy comes into the team for him. The Egyptian Italian’s first ball contact, albeit in an offside position, is strong with an equal goal threat. And a minute later, El Shaarawy again creates tripping in front of Bijlow’s goal.
FEY-ROM | 19′ First yellow, first free kick
A rash tackle by Wieffer on Dybala leads to Feyenoord’s first yellow card of the match. It also produces the first free kick in a dangerous spot. Dybala gets behind the ball and shoots meters over.
FEY-ROM | 9′ Bijlow clamps down
Mancini’s header came from far away and went straight at him, but goalkeeper Bijlow clamped his first ball.
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Pro Shots
Justin Bijlow -
Pro Shots
Dávid Hancko brings Tammy Abraham to the ground -
Pro Shots
Orkun Kökçü (m)
The sun is shining, the ball is rolling in the swirling Kuip for the quarterfinal match between Feyenoord and AS Roma in the Europa League.
Full schedule of quarter-finals
6:45 p.m.: Feyenoord – AS Roma
9 p.m.: Manchester United – Sevilla FC
9 p.m.: Juventus – Sporting CP
9 p.m.: Bayer Leverkusen – Union
6:45 p.m.: KAA Gent – West Ham United
9 p.m.: Lech Poznan Fiorentina
9 p.m.: Anderlecht – AZ
9 p.m.: FC Basel – OGC Nice
Ronaldo sees coach Garcia leave at Al-Nassr
Frenchman Rudi Garcia is no longer coach of Saudi club Al-Nassr, the employer of Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo since last winter. The Riyadh-based club reported in a brief announcement that Garcia’s contract has been terminated by mutual agreement. He had been the head coach since July. Under19 coach Dinko Jelicic will take over.
“We would like to thank Rudi for his work over the past eight months,” Al-Nassr said. The club offered no further comment. Spanish sports newspaper Marca wrote earlier that things were no longer working out between Garcia and the player group.
The 59-year-old Garcia was previously head coach of Saint-Etienne, Dijon, Le Mans, Lille, AS Roma, Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon, among others. With Lille, he won the double (title and cup) in France in 2011.
AS Roma line-up: Wijnaldum on the bench
AS Roma will start without Georginio Wijnaldum. The attacking midfielder, born in Rotterdam, will be on the bench against his old club. Wijnaldum made his debut in the first team of the current premier league leader at the age of 16. He later also played for PSV, Newcastle United and Liverpool. Paris Saint-Germain is renting him to AS Roma this season.
Feyenoord lineup: Bijlow back under the crossbar
Justin Bijlow will start at Feyenoord. The goalkeeper has recovered from a wrist injury he suffered two months ago. He is again preferred to Timon Wellenreuther.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh will also reappear for Feyenoord. The right winger was injured during the warm-up for the game against RKC on Sunday. He was replaced by Igor Paixão, who scored twice against the club from Waalwijk.
Coefficient battle may be decided
A second direct ticket to the Champions League of the 2024/2025 season can hardly escape the Netherlands already. Indeed, the coefficient battle between the Netherlands and Portugal could be decided in the Netherlands’ favor as early as Thursday. Benfica’s defeat Tuesday against Internazionale in the Champions League (0-2) gave the Netherlands an extra push in the right direction.
Tonight’s results at Juventus-Sporting CP in the Europa League and Feyenoord-AS Roma and Anderlecht-AZ could decide it. In the following scenarios on Thursday night, the Netherlands is sure of sixth place in the coefficient rankings and thus a second direct CL ticket in 2024:
- AZ and Feyenoord both book a win.
- One Dutch club wins and the other draws AND Sporting does not win.
- AZ and Feyenoord both play equal or one wins and the other loses AND Sporting loses.
Wijnaldum back on familiar ground
Mulder no longer recognizes Anderlecht
There were times when soccer fans pronounced the name of Royal Sport Club Anderlecht with respect. But the “great sir” of yesteryear seems hard at work becoming the laughing stock of Belgian soccer. If it isn’t already.
The illustrious club from Brussels, tonight (9 p.m.) opposing AZ in the Conference League quarterfinals, is currently only ninth in the Pro League. “I don’t recognize my club anymore,” says former Anderlecht player Jan Mulder.
Eleven months ago, Feyenoord’s European dream shattered in Tirana. The Rotterdammers reached the final after a brilliant season in the Conference League, but in it coach José Mourinho’s AS Roma was too strong 1-0.
Tonight Feyenoord face AS Roma again, on a European step up: in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. A lot has changed since May 25, 2022, especially for the Rotterdammers.
Whether Bijlow will actually play goalie against Roma, coach Arne Slot left in the dark during a press conference.
Welcome to our liveblog about the four quarterfinals in the Europa League, with Feyenoord – AS Roma as the most important match for the Dutch soccer fan. The kickoff is at 6:45 p.m. in De Kuip.
The quarter-finals will also be played in the Conference League, with AZ visiting Anderlecht at 21:00.
