Conference League, the results: Villarreal wins, Okaka’s goal

What Fiorentina failed to do with a thousand regrets against Riga, Basaksehir did in Scotland against Hearts. Never questioned the supremacy of the Turks, rivals of the Viola in Group A, who had the main chances of the match without ever losing control. What did not happen in Nice, where before the match there were fierce clashes between local fans and those of Cologne in particular inside the stadium, which resulted in the injury of seven people, one of whom was in desperate conditions after a fall from five meters. The local authorities would have preferred not to play the match, which in the end was only postponed with the kick-off at 7.40 pm and ended in a draw. Everything happens – fortunately on the pitch – in Vila-Real, where Emery’s team manages to get the best of an irreducible Lech Poznan, forced to surrender at 4-3. There was much emotion on the fields of the United Kingdom for the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Among these, in London West Ham is giving a comeback success on Steaua Bucharest.

HEARTS-BASAKSEHIR 0-4

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The first twenty minutes are of study and suggest that the Turks will play the game. Aleksic is the first to try, finding Gordon’s opposition. At 21 ‘Duarte saves on the line in aerobatics on Haring’s header, after Sengezer’s wrong exit. In the end, however, it is Basaksehir who moves forward in the 27th minute: Kaldirim collects the ball outside the box and lets off an unstoppable left-footed shot from distance. The Hearts are unable to regroup and risk worsening the passive, with Traoré first trying from the outside (Gordon’s save in the 35th minute) then is stopped by the crossbar in the 50th minute. It is only a matter of time: in the 67th minute Ndayishimiye stands out on a corner kick where the goalkeeper cannot reach and signs the double. The trio has Okaka’s hand in the 75th minute, who at the end of a good personal action takes advantage of Kingsley’s deviation on his right to mock Gordon. There is also time for the 0-4, always after a dirty shot, this time made by Ozcan who can claim the paternity of the goal (82 ‘).

VILLARREAL 4-3 LECH POZNAN

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The game starts uphill for Villarreal, because Lech Poznan is already ahead in the 3 ‘. The Poles take advantage of a defensive inattention, Ishak finds Skoras in the middle who signs the 1-0 from a few steps away. Emery’s team suffers the backlash and only after half an hour can they find a draw: Chukwueze thinks about it with a nice volley on Mojica’s left cross. But that’s just the beginning. At 36 ‘Baena completes the comeback thanks to Milic’s deviation on his conclusion, two minutes later the draw fades with Dagerstal hitting the crossbar. So Villarreal stretches, again with Baena good at controlling and directing Chukwueze’s suggestion from the right into the goal (40 ‘). Lech Poznan did not give up and a few seconds from the start of the second half shortened on a penalty with Ishak, granted for the touch of Mandi’s hands. The Swedish center forward repeats himself in the 61st minute, when he punches Jorgensen with a precise diagonal on Skoras’ touch. The incredible performance of the Poles is thwarted by the prowess of Coquelin, who on the fly from outside the area catches the corner where Bednarek cannot reach (89 ‘).

WEST HAM-STEAUA BUCHAREST 3-1

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The territorial dominance is all of the Hammers, with the Romanians who, however, know how to be fearsome. At 18 ‘it is Compagno who does not go far from the target, hitting his head from a corner kick. Cordea succeeds instead, who in the 34th minute is punctual at the far post to push the cut ball drawn by Olaru into the net. At the end of the fraction Scamacca has a good chance but his diagonal does not frame the goal. Moyes is not satisfied, at the interval he changes men and set-up, and the move has the desired effects. Tarnovanu misses the high hold and overwhelms Cornet, who is forced to leave the field after a few minutes of stunning. For the referee it is a penalty, which Bowen transforms (69 ‘). Five minutes and the comeback is served: Antonio pounces on an approximate postponement of the Steaua defense, the ball reaches Emerson who scores by kicking with first intention. Antonio closes the accounts in the final, who makes room for power between the shirts of the opposing defense and bags the final 3-1.

NICE-COLOGNE 1-1

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The heavy atmosphere with which the match begins seems to favor Nice, which approaches better. The first ring is the conclusion from the edge of Delort, which finds the opposition of Schwarf. Immediately after Cologne creates the only two chances of the match: first Ljubicic’s shot stops on the post, then at 19 ‘Tigges does not miss well served by Thielmann in the center of the area. The pressure of the French grows over time and reaches its peak in the recovery. At 61 ‘Delort’s equalizer on a penalty kick, after Hubers’ hands in the barrier. Two minutes later it is Laborde who touches the comeback goal, but he hits the crossbar. The latest dangerous situation happens on Delort’s feet, on Diop’s cross, but Schwarf is better and thwarts the threat.

DNIPRO-AZ ALKMAAR 0-1

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On the neutral of Kosice, Slovakia, Dnipro hosts Az Alkmaar. Not a challenge with great emotions, the situations worthy of note are very few. The most important of the first half was born in a daring way, on a ball stretched from the right that Chatzidiakos deflected on his pole in an attempt to remove it. The Dutch on the whole allow themselves to be preferred for possession and a more offensive attitude, and are rewarded in the 63rd minute: Sugawara suggests well in the center for De Wit, who without too much difficulty scores the winning goal.

THE OTHER RACES

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Honorable mention for Partizan Belgrade, who come back two goals in ten men on the pitch of Slovacko Uherske, even if they then stop at 3-3 for the fortuitous goal of the former Lazio Kozak. Anderlecht beat Silkeborg 1-0 in the final thanks to Fabio Silva’s penalty, Cluj ruined Balkani’s European debut by drawing 1-1 in the recovery, with Matias (on an assist from Scuffet) who responded to Thaqi. Pyunik Yerevan scared Basel for a while, which in the second half spread for the 3-1 final, while Sivasspor made 1-1 with Slavia Prague, wasting a penalty in full recovery. Equal without too many emotions instead in Austria Vienna-Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Shamrock-Djurgardens, Molde-Gent, Slovan Bratislava-Vilnius and Vaduz-Apollon Limassol, which do not go beyond 0-0.