It was a good day for two EPL teams as Spurs were saved by a last minute goal and Newcastle advanced thanks to a second half penalty. Things weren't so great for the defending champions Atletico Madrid who were knocked out by Rubin Kazan. Here's a recap off all of today's early action in the Europa League.
UEFA Europa League 2013: Early games recap
The defending champions Atletico Madrid were knocked out by Rubin Kazan, Spurs were saved by a stoppage time goal from Mousa Dembele and Newcastle advanced thanks to a penalty goal from Shola Ameobi. Just another day in the Europa League.
Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
Rubin Kazan 0-1 (1-2) Atletico Madrid
Radamel Falcao scored in the 84th minute and Kazan’s César was red carded four minutes later, but it wasn’t enough to save the defending champions from exiting the tournament. Atletico had plenty of chances but by the time Falcao’s free kick beat Sergei Ryzhikov, it was too little too late. Ryzhikov was outstanding for Rubin Kazan making nine saves.
CFR Cluj 0-2(0-4) Inter Milan
Cluj's hopes of a miraculous second leg comeback were dashed after 21 minute when Rodrigo Palacio broke behind the high defensive line and drew goalkeeper Mário Felgueiras off his line before crossing to Fredy Guarin for a fairly pedestrian re-direction from close range. Guarin added a second right before halftime when Felgueiras fumbled an easy cover in his own box and Guarin took advantage putting the ball in the empty net. Things got worse for Cluj in the 80th minute when Mario Camora was red carded and seven minutes later Inter's Marco Benassi added a third goal, rubbing a little more salt in the wound.
Dnipro 1-1 (1-3) FC Basel
Basel didn’t seem interested in doing anything more than defending their lead from the first leg but things still got wild late. After a fairly dull hour, Dnipro’s hopes seemed squashed when Nikola Kalinic was shown a straight red card in the 63rd minute. Less than ten minutes later, Fabian Frei threw Dnipro a lifeline committing a handball in the box. Frei was sent off and Yevhen Seleznyov scored the penalty, bringing his side back within a goal. Dnipro’s hopes were finally extinguished in the 81st minute when Roman Zozulya fouled Valentin Stocker in the box and Fabian Schar buried his penalty attempt.
Metalist Kharkiv 0-1 (0-1) Newcastle United
Shola Ameobi's 64th minute penalty was all Newcastle needed to advance to the Round of 16. Newcastle earned the penalty Oleksandr Goryainov and Papa Gueye got their signals completely crossed and fouled Moussa Sissoko. No doubt there are shirtless Geodies celebrating in the streets of Kharkiv tonight.
Lazio 2-0 (5-3) Borussia Monchengladbach
After a wild 3-3 first leg in Germany, Lazio shut down Monchengladbach behind first half goals from Antonio Candreva and Alvaro González.
Click the link for a full match report.
Racing Genk 0-2 (1-3) VfB Stuttgart
Stuttgart wasn't all that great in home first leg allowing an away goal but it ended up not mattering thanks to goals from Arthur Boka and Christian Gentner.
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