All eight UEFA Europa League quarterfinalists will be determined on Thursday, as all of the Round of 16 second legs are played throughout Europe.
In the ties involving American internationals, Oguchi Onyewu and FC Twente carry a 3-0 edge over Zenit-St. Petersburg into their return leg in Russia, while Maurice Edu and Rangers host PSV Eindhoven after a scoreless first leg in the Netherlands.
English teams Liverpool and Manchester City are in danger of exiting the tournament after dropping their first legs, though both have managable deficits. Elsewhere, Giuseppe Rossi and Villarreal host Bayer Leverkusen after a thrilling 3-2, first-leg victory for the Spanish side.
If you will be watching any of Thursday's Europa League matches, please feel free to share any thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below. Enjoy the action (TV schedule is after the jump).
THURSDAY'S EUROPA LEAGUE ON TV
2 p.m. – DirecTV 481 – Manchester City vs. Dynamo Kiev (Kiev leads, 2-0)
2 p.m. – DirecTV 482 – Spartak Moscow vs. Ajax Amsterdam (Moscow leads, 1-0)
2 p.m. – DirecTV 483 – Zenit-St. Petersburg vs. FC Twente (Twente leads, 3-0)
2 p.m. – GOLTV/DirecTV 484 – Paris St.-Germain vs. Benfica (Benfica leads, 2-1)
4:05 p.m. – DirecTV 481 – Villarreal vs. Bayer Leverkusen (Villarreal leads, 3-2)
4:05 p.m. – DirecTV 482 – Rangers vs. PSV Eindhoven (Teams tied, 0-0)
4:05 p.m. – DirecTV 483 – FC Porto vs. CSKA Moscow (Porto leads, 1-0)
4:05 p.m. – GOLTV/DirecTV 484 – Liverpool vs Braga (Braga leads, 1-0)
And Liverpool is out.
Off to drown my sorrows in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
and now Braga, Porto and Sporting will be in the quarterfinals. I think you are half right Fischy, Portugal’s league is the best after the leagues you named, it seems to get less respect then it deserves. I have even had arguments with people who say the SPL is a better league, and thats just wrong
And Rangers are out.
It’s been a tale of two halves. What the hell were Rangers thinking playing with 5 defenders in the first half at home? As soon as they added another midfielder they were bossing the game, but by then PSV were up a goal and into lockdown mode.
Into stoppage time and Rangers need 2 goals.
He’s getting forward really well and getting into good positions but every once in awhile he’s taking too long to distribute the ball.
Wow. PSV with a free kick dead center just outside the penalty box. The shot fires off the inside corner of the post and out of danger.
was just going to say edu’s looking good and right then he gave away the ball in the midfield and it almost led to a goal. oops.
Edu robbed by the goalkeeper and then a handball. Guy cant catch a break!
The shot smacked off the line by hutchinson was from Edu
Controversy at Ibrox. Rangers struck the post, then appeared to knock it in but had it cleared off the line by Atiba Hutchinson and replays showed it was handball by the Canadian.
“Sluggish Donkeys” – Nice!
Edu with a golden chance…and he’s stuffed by the keeper.
Rangers doing better to maintain possession and get wide so far. Created a corner and a set piece out of it so far.
I don’t really think it was a 7-2-1 in the first half. They did have 5 across the back…which they’ve downgraded to 4 by taking off Weir for the second half.
Ha! Fire Mancini, he hasn’t done any better then Hughes had. And with about $150 million worth of attacking players he continues to play defensive football.
Rangers playing a 7-2-1, really?
Your link directs to the frontpage of the forum. Leave the google translate off next time…anyone can translate after they get to the right page.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fctwente.net%2Ffanzone_forum.php
At least one dutch fan thinks Onyewu was MOTM.
Rangers finally putting some pressure on PSV…albeit mostly from set pieces and long balls.
A fair bit of embellishing from both Braga and Liverpool going on right now
Rangers not seeing any of the ball and the home fans ain’t happy.
Haha. Spotted on BBC’s live commentary:
From Mopgaw on Twitter: “Might be time for Rangers to adopt an insanely adventurous 4-4-2 formation…”
From ESPN Soccernet’s game report on Twente’s victory:
But the home side were unable to create a single clear-cut opportunity as Twente’s backline, especially the imposing Oguchi Onyewu, stood firm to progress to the quarter finals.
The PSV players were extremely pleased when they found out they would get Rangers. What a team of sluggish donkeys in blue.
Not sure what kind of formation Rangers are employing, but before that goal Edu was playing pretty high up field pressuring PSV’s defenders when they had the ball.
PSV score on a goal from Lens.
Hulk mad! Hulk score!
Apparently Rangers going with a
7-2-1 according to gamecast…?
Edu in
Haha, and Man City are out.
And Twente go through. I only saw the second half, but Twente managed some possession and chances despite Zenit pressing hard for a 3rd goal.
Twente still lead on aggregate as they head into injury time. A Zenit player lucky to avoid an ejection after kicking out at Janssen and then trying to headbutt his chest.
Twente with a glorious chance, but Landzaat’s header is saved by Zenit’s keeper.
Twente down 2-0 how’s the Gooch doing?
On the other hand, no Portuguese side made the knockout stages in Champions League. England had four teams in Champions knockout rounds. Spain and Italy had three each, while France and Germany had two. That should put Portugal’s accomplishments in Europa in perspective — also suggesting that they might be facing lesser competition. The Portuguese league is living up to its billing as Europe’s sixth best league.
Anybody know what Balotelli did to see red?
had Rangers not gotten through on a late goal from Edu, Portugal would have Benfia, Porto, Braga, and Sporting (4) all in the round of 16. Not bad
Gooch is playing more centrally tonight for Twente. He got somewhat burnt on the goal (1-0 Zenit right now), but in his defense, it was a superb through ball.
Hope Liverpool gets knocked out and FC Twente win