The first set of fixtures in Matchday 4 of the UEFA Europa League has concluded, with PSV Eindhoven and Hapoel Tel-Aviv contesting one of the best matches of the season in Europe. Hapoel needed an improbable win away in Holland to keep their hopes of advancing alive and almost got it, but couldn’t keep their 3-1 lead as PSV eventually came back to clinch a point in a 3-3 draw.
UEFA Europa League 2011, Matchday 4: PSV Eindhoven Vs. Hapoel Tel-Aviv The Highlight Of Early Fixtures
Hapoel’s Roei Gordana was sent off in the 72nd minute with his side leading 3-2, and the rest of the match was absolutely wild. Referee Stuart Atwell gave a penalty late in the match, then was convinced to take it back by his assistant, causing PSV to go absolutely ballistic. Kevin Strootman was booked for dissent on the sequence. Strootman would go on to score the equalizer just two minutes later, securing a point for his side. Tim Matavz appeared to score a winner deep into stoppage time, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Tottenham Hotspur were involved in one of the most high-profile fixtures of the round away to Rubin Kazan, but actually produced a bit of a boring match. Spurs fielded a complete reserve side and played poorly, with goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini keeping them in the game late. Eventually, Natcho scored a winner for Rubin on a free kick, handing Tottenham their first loss in the competition.
Elsewhere, the likes of PSG, Athletic Bilbao and Stoke City all sealed one goal wins. Here's the complete scoreboard from the early fixtures.
Rubin Kazan 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur
Shamrock Rovers 1-3 PAOK Salonika
FC Copenhagen 1-2 Hannover 96
Vorskla 1-3 Standard Liege
PSV Eindhoven 3-3 Hapoel Tel-Aviv
FC Vaslui 1-0 Sporting Lisbon
Lazio 1-0 Sporting Lisbon
Besiktas 1-0 Dynamo Kiev
Maccabi Tel-Aviv 1-2 Stoke City
PSG 1-0 Slovan Bratislava
SV Salsburg 0-1 Athletic Bilbao
See More:
