Europa: United not enough for revenge, Arsenal retain top spot as Roma stay in Europe

Arsenal finished top of Group A after beating FC Zurich 1-0 on Thursday. Kieran Tierney scored the only goal in the 17th minute when he took a rebound at the entrance to the Zurich penalty area after Fabio Vieira's shot was blocked.

Eddie Nketiah should have doubled the lead four minutes later, but Yanick Brecher parried his attempt.

Jonathan Okita's shot tested Aaron Ramsdale in the 35th minute, but the Arsenal keeper parried it safely. A minute later, Brecher saved Nketiah's flying header from a Viera corner to another Arsenal corner.

The second half was a turgid affair, littered with fouls and scoreless. Arsenal qualified directly for the round of 16 ahead of PSV, who won 2-1 at Bodo Glimt.

The Dutch side scored in the 35th and 52nd minutes, but the home side earned a 93rd-minute consolation from Nino Zugeji as they traveled to the Europa Conference League.

Elsewhere, Manchester United completed their group stage fixture with a 1-0 win over Spanish side Real Sociedad at the Reale Seguros stadium. United needed two clear goals to finish as group leaders, but they only had Alejandro Garnacho's first-ever goal to show for their effort.

Coming into the game, Erik Ten Hag made three changes to the side that beat West Ham. Youngster Garnacho made his second Europa League start after a 3-0 win over Sheriff last Thursday. Similarly, Donny Van Beek made his first start of the season while Victor Lindelof replaced Harry Maguire.

Real Sociedad got the first chance in the sixth minute but Carlos Fernandez's finish was ruled offside.

Garnacho put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute with the Red Devils' first attempt on goal. The youngster received a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo and burst into the Sociedad penalty area before finishing high on Alex Remiro.

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Garnacho's goal made him the youngest non-England player, at 18 years and 125 days, to score in a European game for the Devils after George Best's record of 18 years and 158 days against Djurgardens in 1964.

David de Gea was again called upon to make saves that kept United ahead. First, he saved from Alexander Sorloth, whose deflected shot was goal-bound.

In the 43rd minute, he denied Real Sociedad an equalizer after making two quick saves from Gorosabel Andoni.

In the other group game, Francis Uzoho and his Cypriot side, Omonia Nicosia, withdrew from the Europa League with zero points after suffering a single-goal loss to Sheriff.

Uzoho, who was the favorite of the Cypriot club's new coach, Yannick Ferrera, suffered his third successive Europa League defeat after Rasheed Akanbi's 87th-minute arrival silenced the visitors.

In Rome, Jose Mourinho and his team had to make a comeback to defeat Ludogorets Razgrad, 10 players, 3-1 and earn second place for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Before the match, Ludogorets could qualify for the knockout stage on goal difference.

The visitors broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time to take a lead on the scoreboard.

Roma came back strong in the second half and scored twice from the penalty spot, scored by captain Lorenzo Pellegrini. Ludogorets thought they had equalized through Gustavo Nonato, but during the VAR review, the referee scored the goal.

Substitute Nicolo Zaniolo highlighted the victory with a superb solo in the 85th minute. There was still time for a red card for Olivier Vernon's bad stamp on Nicola Zalewski.

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Europa: United not enough for revenge, Arsenal retain top spot as Roma stay in Europe

Arsenal finished top of Group A after beating FC Zurich 1-0 on Thursday. Kieran Tierney scored the only goal in the 17th minute when he took a rebound at the entrance to the Zurich penalty area after Fabio Vieira's shot was blocked.

Eddie Nketiah should have doubled the lead four minutes later, but Yanick Brecher parried his attempt.

Jonathan Okita's shot tested Aaron Ramsdale in the 35th minute, but the Arsenal keeper parried it safely. A minute later, Brecher saved Nketiah's flying header from a Viera corner to another Arsenal corner.

The second half was a turgid affair, littered with fouls and scoreless. Arsenal qualified directly for the round of 16 ahead of PSV, who won 2-1 at Bodo Glimt.

The Dutch side scored in the 35th and 52nd minutes, but the home side earned a 93rd-minute consolation from Nino Zugeji as they traveled to the Europa Conference League.

Elsewhere, Manchester United completed their group stage fixture with a 1-0 win over Spanish side Real Sociedad at the Reale Seguros stadium. United needed two clear goals to finish as group leaders, but they only had Alejandro Garnacho's first-ever goal to show for their effort.

Coming into the game, Erik Ten Hag made three changes to the side that beat West Ham. Youngster Garnacho made his second Europa League start after a 3-0 win over Sheriff last Thursday. Similarly, Donny Van Beek made his first start of the season while Victor Lindelof replaced Harry Maguire.

Real Sociedad got the first chance in the sixth minute but Carlos Fernandez's finish was ruled offside.

Garnacho put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute with the Red Devils' first attempt on goal. The youngster received a pass from Cristiano Ronaldo and burst into the Sociedad penalty area before finishing high on Alex Remiro.

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Garnacho's goal made him the youngest non-England player, at 18 years and 125 days, to score in a European game for the Devils after George Best's record of 18 years and 158 days against Djurgardens in 1964.

David de Gea was again called upon to make saves that kept United ahead. First, he saved from Alexander Sorloth, whose deflected shot was goal-bound.

In the 43rd minute, he denied Real Sociedad an equalizer after making two quick saves from Gorosabel Andoni.

In the other group game, Francis Uzoho and his Cypriot side, Omonia Nicosia, withdrew from the Europa League with zero points after suffering a single-goal loss to Sheriff.

Uzoho, who was the favorite of the Cypriot club's new coach, Yannick Ferrera, suffered his third successive Europa League defeat after Rasheed Akanbi's 87th-minute arrival silenced the visitors.

In Rome, Jose Mourinho and his team had to make a comeback to defeat Ludogorets Razgrad, 10 players, 3-1 and earn second place for the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Before the match, Ludogorets could qualify for the knockout stage on goal difference.

The visitors broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time to take a lead on the scoreboard.

Roma came back strong in the second half and scored twice from the penalty spot, scored by captain Lorenzo Pellegrini. Ludogorets thought they had equalized through Gustavo Nonato, but during the VAR review, the referee scored the goal.

Substitute Nicolo Zaniolo highlighted the victory with a superb solo in the 85th minute. There was still time for a red card for Olivier Vernon's bad stamp on Nicola Zalewski.

Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.

Donate

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