UEFA Europa League round-up: PSV and Man United among four qualifiers

PSV Eindhoven secured a place in the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League knockout phase by beating Arsenal and victory against Sheriff took Manchester United through, while wins kept Roma and Lazio’s qualification hopes alive.

Below is the round up all the action.

PSV Eindhoven 2-0 Arsenal

Luuk de Jong came off the bench to earn a win which secured a top-two spot for PSV. Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simons had goals ruled out for offside in a first half short on chances, but De Jong’s introduction at the break gave the hosts a new threat. The 32-year-old teed up Joey Veerman for a well-taken opener before heading in Gakpo’s corner for the second. De Jong headed wide and Gakpo had another ruled out as Arsenal lost for the first time in Group A.

Man United 3-0 Sheriff

United secured a top-two finish in Group E with a dominant win against the Moldovan champions, whose faint hopes of overhauling the Red Devils foundered at Old Trafford. Diogo Dalot’s header from a Christian Eriksen corner gave Erik ten Hag’s side a deserved lead, before a well-taken header from Marcus Rashford and a close-range effort from Cristiano Ronaldo added gloss to the scoreline in the second half.

HJK Helsinki 1-2 Roma

Roma kept hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive as Stephan El Shaarawy’s deflected strike secured a hard-earned win in Helsinki. Tammy Abraham’s header was cancelled out by Perparim Hetemaj, only for El Shaarawy’s effort just past the hour to go in off Arttu Hoskonen and restore the Italian side’s advantage. The newly-crowned Finnish champions thought they had equalised again but David Browne’s stunning effort was ruled out for an infringement in the penalty area. Roma must now beat Ludogorets to claim second spot in Group C.

Lazio 2-1 Midtjylland

Lazio came from behind to keep qualification for the knockout phase in their own hands. Gustav Isaksen fired into the bottom corner after eight minutes for the Danish side, but captain Sergej Milinković-Savić’s composed finish sent Lazio in level at the break. The Serie A side had the better of it from then on, substitute Pedro Rodríguez scoring the winner. The Biancocelesti are now three points clear of Midtjylland at the top of Group F heading into Matchday 6.

Fenerbahçe 3-3 Rennes

Having come from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Rennes on Matchday 2, Fenerbahçe went one better at home, Emre Mor completing a stunning comeback from 3-0 down on 88 minutes. Amine Gouiri rifled in an early opener, laid on the second for Martin Terrier not long after Lovro Majer had a stunning effort ruled out for offside then slipped in the third himself. Enner Valencia headed one back before the break, and Miha Zajc’s sweet free-kick on 82 minutes set the stage for Mor to make it 3-3.