Jose Mourinho’s Roma took a major step toward the Europa League last 16 with a dominant 3-0 win over Fenerbahce in the knockout phase first leg. Former Premier League stars Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko were on target for the Turkish side in the first half, while Morocco’s Youssef En-Nesyri sealed the win with a header to give Fenerbahce a commanding advantage.
Jose Mourinho’s Tactical Brilliance
The match was a showcase of Mourinho’s tactical expertise. Although the win gives Fenerbahce a commanding position, Mourinho remained cautious post-match, acknowledging the importance of the second leg. “We played very well, but I can’t say ‘a good result.’ We need to advance to the next round for this to be a good result,” Mourinho said.
The tie is far from over, and Fenerbahce will need to remain focused as Roma head into the second leg with the aim of overturning the deficit.
Roma Draw with Porto in Tense First Leg
In a gripping encounter in Portugal, Roma were held to a 1-1 draw with Porto. Zeki Celic gave Roma the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Porto’s Francisco Moura leveled the score with a deflected strike. Roma had to finish the match a man down after Bryan Cristante’s red card, which added to the tension. With the tie finely balanced, Roma will hope to capitalize on their home advantage in the return leg.
Real Sociedad, Ajax, and Other Europa League Results
Real Sociedad triumphed 2-1 over Midtjylland thanks to a penalty from Brais Mendez and a fantastic goal from Japan’s Takefusa Kubo. Their opponents in the next round will face either Manchester United or Tottenham, both of whom are locked in a fierce battle in their own knockout phase.
Ajax took control of their play-off with a 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium. Christian Rasmussen and 16-year-old Jorthy Mokio were the heroes, scoring the goals to give Ajax a comfortable advantage ahead of the second leg.
Elsewhere, Ferencvaros edged Viktoria Plzen 1-0 thanks to Mohammad Abu Fani’s solitary strike, while AZ Alkmaar triumphed 4-1 over Galatasaray. Goals from Sven Mijnans, Troy Parrott, Jordy Clasie, and David Moller Wolfe secured the convincing victory. Galatasaray, however, had to cope with 10 men for most of the second half after Kaan Ayhan was sent off.
In other action, Ricky Van Wolfswinkel’s 95th-minute penalty gave Twente a late 2-1 win against Bodo/Glimt, and FCSB triumphed by the same score against PAOK in Greece.
Antony Shines for Real Betis in 3-0 Win
On the Conference League front, former Manchester United winger Antony continued his fine form with Real Betis, scoring for the second time in three games since his loan move to Spain. Antony netted in Betis’ 3-0 victory over Gent, further solidifying his impact in La Liga.
Shamrock Rovers also had a memorable night in the Conference League, with 16-year-old Michael Noonan becoming the competition’s youngest-ever scorer in their 1-0 win over Molde.
Other Notable Results
- Heidenheim secured a 2-1 win over Copenhagen.
- Borac Banja Luka triumphed 1-0 against Olimpija Ljubljana.
- Omonia Nicosia and Pafos drew 1-1 in an all-Cypriot clash.
- Vikingur Reykjavik beat Panathinaikos 2-1 in a thrilling encounter.
Key Stats & Highlights
- 16 years, 197 days – Michael Noonan becomes the youngest scorer in Conference League history.
- 3-0 – Fenerbahce’s dominant win over Anderlecht in the Europa League play-offs.