The Europa League action you might have missed: Celtic pull off 64-second comeback

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It might be Europe’s secondary competition, but the Europa League still throws up plenty of surprises and thrills on Thursday nights.

This week was no different. We were treated to wonder goals, comebacks and young players finding the net across the continent.

With so many games being played throughout the evening, it’s sometimes difficult to catch all of the action.

So here are eight things you might have missed from Thursday’s Europa League action.

1. Spartak’s quick double inflicts Gerrard’s first European defeat

Rangers led 3-2 at half-time against Spartak Moscow and it should have been four; Alfredo Morelos had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside just before the break.

Spartak piled the misery on Steven Gerrard’s side with two goals in the space of 66 seconds midway through the second half. The hosts held on to win 4-3, and Rangers now find themselves third in Group G, with two points separating top and bottom spot.

It was Gerrard’s first European defeat as a manager, but the former Liverpool midfielder will still fancy his chances of leading Rangers into the knockout stages.

2. Celtic strike back instantly

Celtic fans could feel their European dream drifting away when RB Leipzig equalised with quarter of an hour to go at Celtic Park. But 64 seconds later, Odsonne Edouard put the hosts back ahead.

It was a brilliantly worked goal that clearly delighted the home fans. Brendan Rodgers’ side just about managed to hold on.

3. Middleton’s magic moment for Rangers

Teenager Glen Middleton bagged Rangers’ third goal in Moscow. According to Opta, the 18-year-old is the youngest Rangers player to score in a major European competition (excluding qualifiers) since 16-year-old Alexander O’Hara in October 1973.

It’s just a shame Middleton’s strike ultimately meant nothing, with Rangers unable to find a way back into the game after Spartak’s rapid double.

4. Wonderkid keeps Genk run going

Genk youngster Sander Berge, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham and Arsenal by the media in his native Norway, scored his first club goal against Besiktas.

It was an 86th minute equaliser, and what’s more, it saw Genk extend their unbeaten run at home in Europe to 14 games. The 20-year-old could have a big future ahead of him – remember the name: Sander Berge.

5. Lazio extend unbeaten home run

Over in Group H, Lazio qualified for the knockout stages with a 2-1 win over Marseille. The Italians took control ten minutes after half-time through Joaquin Correa, but they were made to sweat when Florian Thauvin found the net with half an hour to go.

It didn’t matter, though, as Lazio held on to extend their unbeaten home run in the Europa League to eight matches.

6. A rare English trio for Chelsea

As pointed out by our friends at Opta, Chelsea started three English players – Gary Cahill, Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – in a European game for the first time since April 2014, when Cahill, John Terry and Ashley Cole started against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Unfortunately, Loftus-Cheek didn’t have the best of nights in Belarus, nor did anyone else for Chelsea. Indeed, the Londoners failed to register a shot on target in the first half of a game for the first time this season.

7. Minamino’s first half hat-trick in Norway

Salzburg star Takumi Minamino took his Europa League tally up to four for the season with a stunning first half hat-trick against Rosenberg.

The pick of the bunch was his excellent second goal, a perfectly placed first-time volley that doubled Salzburg’s lead. The visitors went on to win 5-2 in a wild contest.

8. Giovani Lo Celso makes it three from three

Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who is on loan at the La Liga club from Paris Saint-Germain, scored his third Europa League goal in as many games in the competition against AC Milan.

Suso struck a 62nd minute equaliser for the visitors as both sides had to settle for a point in a very tight Group F. Milan may need to get something against Olympiakos to qualify for the next stage.

The post The Europa League action you might have missed: Celtic pull off 64-second comeback appeared first on Squawka News.



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