Europa League wrap: Man Utd through despite Ajax loss

Manchester United survived a scare against Ajax to progress through to the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday.

The English Premier League outfit won the first leg 2-0 in Amsterdam and they were expected to progress comfortably at Old Trafford.

But despite Mexican Javier Hernandez' sixth-minute strike, Sir Alex Ferguson's men were outplayed and slumped to a 2-1 home defeat.

It mattered little as they won 3-2 on aggregate, but goals from Aras Ozbiliz and Toby Alderweireld ensured a nervy finale for the hosts.

The news was not as good for fellow Premier League side Stoke City, who saw their European adventure come to an end after a 1-0 defeat at Valencia.

Stoke boss Tony Pulis named a second-string side for the trip to Spain after they lost the first leg 1-0, but the Spaniards did not have it all their own way.

Brazilian Jonas scored the only goal of the match with his 11th strike of the season on 24 minutes enough to seal their progression.

Elsewhere, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored a hat-trick as Schalke overcame Viktoria Plzen 3-1 in extra time.

The tie finished 1-1 after regular time, with a late goal from Frantisek Rajtoral canelling out Huntelaar's eighth minute opener.

The Dutch ace scored twice more in extra time though, taking his season tally to 33 goals in all competitions, as the Germans went thorugh 4-2 on aggregate.

Last season's Europa League finalists Braga were knocked out of the competition despite winning 1-0 at Besiktas, but wins by the same scoreline was enough for Olympiakos, Athletic Bilbao, AZ Alkmaar, Atletico Madrid and Sporting Lisbon to qualify against Rubin Kazan, Lokomotiv Moscow, Anderlecht, Lazio and Legia Warsaw respectively.

Serie A high-flyers Udinese won 3-0 at PAOK Salonika to win by the same scoreline on aggregate.

Danilo, Antonio Floro Flores and Maurizio Domizzi scored the goals for Francesco Guidolin's side.

Meanwhile a goalless draw in Belgium was enough to send Standard Liege through on away goals against Polish outfit Wisla Krakow.

Slovenian forward Tim Matavz bagged a double in PSV's 4-1 win over Trabzonspor that sealed a 6-2 win over the two legs, while Hannover, Twente and Athletic Bilbao won their ties after 1-0 wins over Club Brugge, Steaua Bucharest and Lokomotiv Moscow respectively.

Metalist Kharkiv scored four goals against Red Bull Salzburg for the second time in a week as they claimed an 8-1 aggregate victory.

Sumber : Soccerway

Hernandez praises newcomer Welbeck

Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez has hailed the impact of team-mate Danny Welbeck on the English Premier League champions.

Welbeck spent last season on loan at Sunderland, impressing throughout his spell at the Stadium of Light, and earning an England call-up.

Mexico international Hernandez has found himself out of the first team at times this season due to the emergence of Welbeck, but does not begrudge his fellow centre-forward such success.

"Danny Welbeck is a brilliant player," he said.

"He is only young but he went to Sunderland and did great things there. Then he came back here and has been unbelievable."

"That doesn't upset me, competition is normal at a club like this. You need to be at your best to help the team. That is the most important thing."

Hernandez said United were aiming to win the Europa League after dropping into the second-tier competition from the Champions League.

"The history of Manchester United is such that it doesn't matter which competition you are in, we want to win it, no matter who else is in it, or whether it is an important trophy for other teams," he said.

"We need to get used to the fact we are not in the Champions League this season."

United meet Ajax in the first knockout stage of the competition, with the first leg away in Amsterdam on Thursday.

"Both teams have come out of the Champions League and they both have a great history," he said.

"We have won a lot of European Cups between us, so it will be a very interesting game."

Sumber : Soccerway

Cute Picture Chicharito & Ji Sung Park

United mula himpit City

MANCHESTER - Pengurus Manchester United, Alex Ferguson menjangkakan pertemuan menentang Manchester City April depan bakal menjadi detik penentu siapa lebih layak bergelar juara Liga Perdana England musim ini.

Kenyataan Ferguson itu hadir selepas anak-anak buahnya melakar kemenangan 2-0 ke atas Stoke City di Old Trafford awal pagi semalam.

Kemenangan itu ternyata bermakna buat skuad The Red Devils apabila mereka berjaya menyamakan pungutan 54 mata dengan City yang masih mengungguli carta liga.

Malah kejayaan United berkongsi 54 mata dengan City turut dibantu dengan kekalahan mengejut 0-1 yang dialami City di tangan Everton dalam satu lagi aksi awal pagi semalam.

Dengan tiga tonggak utama United, Wayne Rooney, Nani dan Ashley Young dijangka kembali diturunkan selepas pulih daripada masalah kecederaan menjelang pertemuan dengan Chelsea Ahad ini, Ferguson ternyata berpuas hati dengan prestasi semasa barisan pemainnya.

"Kemenangan ke atas Stoke cukup signifikan bagi kami. Namun, ia tetap hari terakhir pada Januari.

"Saya sentiasa melihat Mac sebagai bulan yang penting buat kami. Pada April pula kami akan berdepan dengan City.

"Kami harap Rooney, Nani dan Young boleh diturunkan pada perlawanan menentang Chelsea Ahad ini.

"Malam ini (awal pagi semalam) ternyata hari yang cukup indah buat kami. Namun, saya lebih berpuas hati dengan persembahan kami sendiri," kata Ferguson.

Pada aksi awal pagi semalam, kedua-dua gol kemenangan skuad The Red Devils diperoleh menerusi sepakan penalti.

Bintang muda United, Javier Hernandez menyempurnakan sepakan penalti pertama pada minit ke-38 sebelum penyerang antarabangsa Bulgaria, Dimitar Berbatoz meledak penalti kedua minit ke-53.

"Ia merupakan sepakan penalti yang sangat baik dan tidak mendatangkan masalah buat Hernandez untuk menyempurnakannya.

"Pada awalnya, Berbatov mahu mengambil sepakan penalti pertama, namun dia mengalah kepada Hernandez. Selepas itu dia ambil sepakan yang kedua dan berjaya menyempurnakannya," jelas Ferguson.

- AFP

Sumber : Harian Kosmo