10-man Ajax beat Union SG; Fenerbahçe, Sociedad, Plzeň also qualify | OneFootball

The Europa League knockout round play-off comes to a close tonight, with eight second leg clashes deciding which sides will make it into the round of 16.

Follow the action here.

Ajax v Union Saint-Gilloise

Scorers: Taylor (pen) 93'; Mac Allister 16', David (pen) 28'

Ajax survived throwing away their two-goal first-leg lead and losing their captain Davy Klaassen to a first-half red card to squeeze past Union Saint-Gilloise to qualify for the last 16 of the Europa League.

Union stunned the Johan Cruyff Arena with the opening goal in the 16th minute through Kevin Mac Allister, who was left unmarked at a free-kick and powered a header into the net.

They thought they had a second to level the tie three minutes later through Sofiane Boufal, but there was an offside in the build up.

The Belgians continued to push on, causing Ajax all problems, and got their second from the spot just before the half hour. Klaassen handled the ball on the line, receiving a first career red card, and Promise David added to their woes with a very cool penalty.

After the break, Ajax stemmed the flow of Union attacks somewhat, but struggled to make any chances of note, which was not surprising given their numerical disadvantage.

Neither side could grab the all-decisive third goal as the game went into extra-time.

Just three minutes into the additional 30, Ajax did get the goal they craved, Kenneth Taylor slotting home from the spot after a dubious handball went against Union.

The Eredivisie league leaders held on for a further 27 minutes plus injury time to book their spot in Friday's draw.

Mourinho's men march on

Scorers: Vázquez 19', 55'; En-Nesyri 4', Akçiçek 65'

Fenerbahçe survived a brief scare to qualify for the Europa League last 16 with a 2-2 draw away to Anderlecht giving them a 5-2 aggregate victory.

Anderlecht's hopes of a comeback in this tie suffered a hammer blow inside five minutes when Youssef En-Nesyri hit the back of the net after a disastrous piece of defending from the home team. It was the Moroccan's 18th in his last 14 games.

Minutes later, the game was paused due to crowd trouble with both sides heading back into the changing rooms.

After the game was restarted, it was Fener's turn to gift a goal, Milan Škriniar playing a very poor ball back towards İrfan Can Eğribayat, who panicked allowing Luis Vázquez to tap into an open goal.

The Argentinian striker got his, and Anderlecht's, second 10 minutes into the second half, finishing smartly inside the box after great wing play from Thorgan Hazard.

However, the Turkish giants rallied and sealed qualification in the 65th minute through Yusuf Akçiçek. It was his fellow defender Škriniar who assisted him, and redeemed himself, with a header across the box that the youngster met with a header of his own.

José Mourinho is now one step closer to a seventh European final, a sixth European trophy, and a third Europa League triumph, while Fener fans can begin to quitely think about a first-ever European success.

Plzeň turn it around to progress

Scorers: Jemelka 27', Šulc 36', Durosinmi 38'

Plzeň overcame a first-leg deficit to comfortably beat Ferencvaros 3-0 and qualify for the Europa League last 16.

The Czech side pulled level on aggregate less than half hour into the game, Václav Jemelka nodding home from a corner.

They turned the tie on it's head nine minutes later, but Ferencváros were the architects of their own downfall. Attempting to play out from the back, they lost the ball, eventually leading to Pavel Šulc smashing home with a fine left-footed shot from inside the box.

It was 3-0 to the hosts shortly after as the Hungarians collapsed, Rafiu Durosinmi squeezing the ball in at the near post after getting to a cross before the defender.

Ferencvaros showed few signs of a fight back of their own, and Robbie Keane's side bowed out in meek fashion.

Socidead see off plucky Midtjylland

Scorers: Méndez 4', Sučić 18',45+1',Oyarzabal (pen) 73', Óskarsson 90'; Buksa 24', Osorio 38'

Real Sociedad booked a Europa League last 16 date with either Manchester United or Tottenham with a 4-2 second leg victory over Midtjylland at the Anoeta Stadium.

Sociedad took the lead after just four minutes via an almighty defensive howler. Midtylland defender Mads Bech tried to play the ball back to his keeper, but got his lines mixed up, allowing Brais Méndez to slot into an empty net.

It was 2-0 less than 15 minutes later, Luka Sučić finishing off a fine team move at the back post.

Adam Buksa pulled one back for the Danes from the spot shortly after to cut the deficit back to two, and it was down to one minutes later when Darío Osorio hit a brilliant strike from the edge of the box.

Sučić restored Sociedad's lead on the night, and two-goal aggregate lead, just before the half-time break, getting the ball through a crowded box and past the keeper after a corner fell to him.

Midtjylland went down to 10 with just over 20 minutes left, when Dani Silva was slightly unlucky to receive a second yellow for a high tackle. Minutes later, Sociedad sealed qualification with a Mikkel Oyarzabal penalty.

Orri Óskarsson came off the bench to put the seal on a fine win for the Basques with a lovely side-footed finish in the final minute.

Earlier

Roma knock out Porto

Scorers: Dybala 35', 39', Pisilli 83'; Samu 30'

An excellent display from Paulo Dybala helped Roma knock Porto out of the Europa League in Rome.

Roma began the game on the front foot in the eternal city, with Porto having much of the ball but the Italian side looking threatening on the break.

But they played themselves into trouble, as goalkeeper Svilar gave the ball away 18 yards from his own goal. Roma thought that they had got away with it after blocking the initial effort, but an exceptional overhead kick from Samu punished the mistake, and put Porto into the lead on the night and in the tie.

That lead did not last long though, with Paulo Dybala showing some neat footwork to run through the Porto defence before flicking the ball over the onrushing Diogo Costa.

Four minutes later, the turnaround was complete at the Stadio Olimpico as Dybala struck once more. The Argentine cut into the penalty area before firing past Costa at the near post to put his side ahead in the tie.

Moments after the second half kicked off, Porto were reduced to 10 men as Stephen Eustáquio reacted to Leandro Paredes off the ball, leaving his side facing a massive uphill battle to qualify.

The Portuguese giants continued to threaten, with Samu striking the post, but they were forced further and further back as Roma's pressure began to tell.

Finally, Roma landed the knockout blow seven minutes from time when Niccolo Pisilli got on the end of an Angelino cutback to divert it past Costa and secure Roma's path to the next round.

Galatasaray fall to AZ

Scorers: Osimhen 56', Sallai 70'; Mikuma 42', Kasius 55'

Despite scoring twice late, Galatasaray could not turn around the heavy deficit against AZ, who cruised into the next round of the competition/

Already holding a hefty aggregate lead, AZ flew out of the blocks against Galatasaray with the Dutch side spurning a couple of glorious early chances.

As Gala pushed forwards in hope of reducing the deficit, AZ continued to generate plenty of chances, but could not find a way to add to their advantage.

Minutes before half time though, they finally got the opening goal, and it came through some excellent work by Poku, which eventually saw the ball drop at the feet of Mikuma, whose effort went in off a Galatasary defender.

Booed off at the break, Gala's evening went from bad to worse as Denso Kasius fired home a rocket from 25 yards to double his side's advantage on the night.

A minute later, the home side were on the board as Victor Osimhen fired an effort into the roof of the net, halving the deficit on the night.

And with 20 minutes to go, they grabbed a second goal after a cut-back was met by Sallai, whose scuffed effort went through the goalkeeper.

Bodø/Glimt stun FC Twente

Scorers: Høgh [Pen] 55', Hilgers (OG) 90+1', Wembangomo 90+3', Fet 111', Verschueren 114';Sjovold (OG) 26', Steijn 90+6'

Bodo/Glimt pulled off one of the biggest results in their history with a stunning 5-2 victory over Twente, which saw them progress to the Europa League round of 16 with a 6-4 aggregate win.

Trailing by a goal, Bodo/Glimt dominated the early stages as they looked to level the tie, missing several good chances.

But they were struck by a hammer blow midway through the first half when a Twente corner went in off the unfortunate Fredrik Sjovold to extend the Dutch side's lead against the run of play.

10 minutes into the second half, Bodo were handed a golden chance to reopen the tie as Lagerbielke conceded a penalty, which allowed Kasper Høgh to level on the night.

And in stoppage time, disaster struck for Twente as a cross from Bodo was turned into his own net by Hilgers, before Brice Wembangomo fired home from 20 yards two minutes later to seemingly book a shock spot in the last 16 of the competition.

But Twente weren't done, and in the final seconds of the game they pulled themselves level to send the tie to extra time.

Bodo took the lead in the 21st minute of the added 30, Sondre Brunstad Fet just about getting the ball over line from close range after Twente failed to deal with a corner.

They sealed their spot in Friday's draw minutes later, Arno Verschueren turning into his own net after a brilliant, mazy run from left-back Fredrik André Bjørkan.

FCSB seal progress

Scorers: Cisotti 30', Miculescu 81'

Already a goal up on aggregate, FCSB doubled their advantage after half an hour, with Juri Cisotti opening the scoring for the home side.

Despite dominating the game for large parts, FCSB only managed to grab their second goal 10 minutes from time, when David Miculescu bundled home from a corner to put them three goals up on aggregate.

📸 MAURICE VAN STEEN