The Europa League semi-final stage kicks off tonight (Thursday). Frankfurt maintained a perfect away balance in the knockout stage when they beat West Ham 1: 2 in the first of two meetings. RB Leipzig missed a lot but in the end managed to beat Rangers 0: 1.
West Ham – Eintracht Frankfurt 2: 1
The Hammers with a third loss in their last five games, and they will go into the rematch in Germany when they must win by a goal to equal the opponent and by two goals or more to advance to the final. The Germans celebrated just 52 seconds from the start when Rafael Bora bounced a smart ball and Ansgar Knauf snuck up behind everyone to slam the Frankfurt advantage.
The host equalized 20 minutes later from a goal by Mikhail Antonio, but the Germans regained the lead when Daichi Kamada pushed close and ran to celebrate with 3,000 visitors. Kamada almost completed a double, but was stopped in the crossbar and Oliver Glasner’s side remained perfect in the away games in the knockout stages of the Europa League.
Minute 1: Goal! 0: 1 to Frankfurt. Just 52 seconds from the start Rafael Bora found with a clever elevation that Ansgar Knauf snuck behind the defense and slammed in the first of the visitors.
21 min: Goal! West Ham drew 1-1. Kurt Zuma raised a ball to the far corner and Michael Antonio sent a foot and pushed close to the equalizer of the Hammers.
49th minute: Thomas Sozek kicked from the air from a winking position, but his ball missed the frame.
54 min: Goal! 1: 2 to Frankfurt. Jibril Sue squeezed a shot from Alphonse Areola at the host goal, but Daichi Kamada was there to push close and regain the advantage for the Germans.
68 min: Said in compassion almost equalized with a great kick, but his ball rubbed the crossbar and went out.
79 min: Daichi Kamada almost completed a double after his kick hit Craig Dawson of West Ham, but was stopped only by a crossbar.
90 + 2 minutes: Jarrod Bowen with a huge number almost equalized with a huge goal, but his kick was stopped in the crossbar.
RB Leipzig – Rangers 0: 1
The Germans with a breakable advance towards the reciprocity in Glasgow, but also achieved it with great difficulty. The Scottish champions who surprised in the quarter-finals when they ousted Dortmund managed to keep a clean sheet for 85 minutes, with Christopher Anconco recording a number of big misses. The guest’s goalkeeper, 40-year-old Alan McGregor, provided a number of big saves, and the Scots will greatly frustrate Domenico Tedesco’s side. Five minutes to the end the Scottish defense pushed a ball not well enough following the host’s corner, and Angelinio kicked a huge ball from the air that was stopped only by McGregor’s net. Rangers, who could have come down with a much bigger loss, are hoping to erase the rematch left to be held at Ibrooks next week.
53 min: Christopher Anconco kicked a powerful ball that was superbly repulsed by 40-year-old Alan McGregor.
70th minute: Anconco passed two players, also passed McGregor, but missed in front of an exposed goal and kicked outside the box.
79 min: Anconco again. This time Angelinio provided a great elevation to the field, and the Leipzig striker rose great, but his jab again did not find the frame.
85 min: Goal! 0: 1 to Leipzig. After many misses, the bulls managed to break through the dam with a great volley kick from Angelinio after a bad dismissal of the guest defense.