|
|
|
|
Odense and Getafe bow out |
|
Odense and Getafe both said farewell to the Europa League after playing out a 1-1 draw in testing conditions in Denmark and then seeing Young Boys claim a fightback win over Stuttgart.
Getafe took a first-half lead through Pedro Rios at the snow-covered Odense Stadion but then suffered late heartbreak as their hosts equalised through Hans Henrik Andreasen in the 91st minute.
That left both sides - the bottom two teams in Group H - facing a nervous wait to see how second-placed Young Boys would get on against already-qualified leaders Stuttgart in the evening`s other game, where anything other than a victory for the Swiss would keep the fight for second spot open.
However, despite Stuttgart leading 2-1 with 12 minutes to go, Youngs Boys hit back to win 4-2 and therefore build an unassailable five-point lead over both Getafe and Odense with one round of matches to go.
Getafe, who brought to an end a seven-match winless streak with an impressive comeback win at Sevilla at the weekend, enjoyed a great start as they took the lead after just 16 minutes.
The visitors had already tested home goalkeeper Roy Carroll with an early effort from Juan Albin but there was no denying Michel`s side a second time, Pedro Rios heading in Mane`s cross from the left.
Getafe centre-back Cata Diaz had a chance to increase his side`s lead on the half-hour but Carroll saved with his feet.
The Spanish side found themselves having to do some defending after that though as Odense had efforts from Peter Utaka, Kalilou Traore and Hans Henrik Andreasen before Utaka struck the post with a header in the 44th minute.
The hosts continued to push for an equaliser after the break and they almost found it in the 72nd minute when substitute Andreas Johansson`s header was brilliant turned around the post one-handed by the diving Oscar Ustari.
Eric Djemba-Djemba then fired a shot just wide from the edge of the box as time started to run out on Odense to get back on level terms.
However, the Danes did managed to get the breakthrough in stoppage time through Andreasen.
Utaka did well to get to the byline before cutting the ball back to Andreasen 10 yards out and his half-volley flew past Ustari and into the far side of the net, however it would prove to be nothing more than a consolation as both Odense and Getafe ended up tumbling out of the tournament.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|