Page 60 - Soccer360 Issue 106

EUROPES TOP MOMENTS
“HARDLY ANYONE
Another Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv ended
GAVE ATALANTA A CHANCE OF BEATING
OLYMPIAKOS OVERCOME THE ODDS
EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE
MARTINEZ MIND GAMES
It was not quite the World Cup final, but Emiliano Martinez once again stole the headlines during a penalty shootout, this time his mind games helped Aston Villa to defeat Lille in the quarter-final stage of the Europa Conference League. The Argentina international got down twice to his left to save spot-kicks from both Nabil Bentaleb and Benjamin Andre to help his side through.
FIORENTINA THRILLER
Maccabi Haifa had taken the lead three times against Fiorentina but still ended up on the losing side in their Round of 16 first-leg clash that was played in neutral Hungary. Last year’s finalists need a 95th minute winner from Antonin Barak to give the Italians the lead heading into the return leg, which ended 1-1 to ensure a 5-4 aggregate victory.
up on the losing side of the comeback of the tournament in the Round of 16. Greek side Olympiakos travelled to neutral Serbia with a 4-1 deficit from their home leg and took the game to extra time before goals from Stevan Jovetic and Youssef El-Arabi turned the tie around to make it an astonishing 6-1 win on the night.
WEST HAM ROMP
Premier League side West Ham United were looking to win a second European trophy in
a row after securing their first title against Fiorentina in the Conference League final last year. David Moyes’ men unfortunately went out at the quarter-final stage to Bayer Leverkusen; however, they did record a famous 5-0 victory over Bundesliga club Freiburg in their Round of 16 home leg as Mohammed Kudus scored twice.
SCHICK’S LATE SHOW
Newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run in 2023-24 has immediately become legendary. So many times, they have rescued losing positions with late goals and arguably none were more dramatic than Patrick Schick’s double at the death
to spare them from a surprise defeat to FK Qarabag in the last 16, turning a 2-1 deficit on the night to a 3-2 win.
ATALANTA RULE ANFIELD
Before Atalanta travelled to Anfield to take
on Liverpool in the quarterfinals most pundits gave the Italian side little to no chance of causing an upset. The Reds were favourites to win the tournament but were humbled 3-0 in front of their own fans, with Gianluca Scamacca scoring twice as the visitors took advantage of kamikaze defending.
MANCINI ACCOUNTS FOR MILAN
The quarter-final stage served up a tense all-Italian affair between last season’s losing finalists Roma and Milan. Gianluca Mancini was the unlikely hero, as his goal gave the Giallorossi a 1-0 win in San Siro while in the return leg the same player opened the scoring in a 2-1 win for Daniele De Rossi’s men at the Stadio Olimpico.
BAYER NEVERLUSEN
Throughout 2023-24 Bayer Leverkusen continually defied description with their ability to score late goals and salvage results, keeping their unbeaten record going. They allowed a 2-0 first leg lead to slip in the return match with Roma in the semi-finals, before they fought back and secured a place in the final with yet another stoppage time goal, this time from Josip Stanisic in the 97th minute.
LIVERPOOL” A FINAL RETURN
showpiece, Fiorentina made it to back-to-back
Losers against West Ham United in last year’s
finals thanks to a late Lucas Beltran penalty that made it 1-1 on the night in the semi-final second leg against Club Brugge. The Argentine striker kept his nerve in what was a tense and nervy last ten minutes that saw seven yellow cards dished out between the sides.
UNSTOPPABLE EL KAABI
Aston Villa were the clear favourites to win the Europa Conference League until they ran into an inspired Olympiakos in the semi-finals. In
a shock 4-2 at Villa Park the hero was Ayoub
El Kaabi, who hit a stunning hat-trick. The Moroccan striker was at it again with both goals in the return leg, taking his total to five across the tie and firing the Greek side to the final.
ABOVE LEFT:
Atalanta caused a major surprise by winning 3-0 at Anfield
RIGHT:
Pierre-Emerick Aubamyang hit 10 Europa League goals for Marseille
FAR RIGHT:
A goal in
either leg from Gianlica Mancini saw Roma edge out Serie A rivals Milan
58 SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024