Spurs make winning start in Europe

AFP, PARIS: Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday by coming from behind to beat Qarabag 3-1, while Liverpool conceded a late equaliser as they drew 1-1 at Bordeaux.
Azerbaijani champions Qarabag grabbed a surprise seventh-minute lead at White Hart Lane when Richard Almeida converted a penalty after being bundled over by Spurs debutant Kieran Trippier.
But two goals in the space of two minutes from South Korean striker Son Heung-min and a late strike from Erik Lamela spared Tottenham's blushes as Mauricio Pochettino's side made a winning start to Group J, as Anderlecht against Monaco finished 1-1 in the other match. Earlier, Adam Lallana's sublime second-half goal in France looked destined to hand Liverpool all three points in their Group B opener. But the visitors were pegged back nine minutes from time when substitute Jussie slammed a loose ball beyond Simon Mignolet to salvage a point for Bordeaux.
“We can always be disappointed to not have won after having led, but in European football, picking up a point away from home is never a bad result,” said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers afterwards. “If we win our home matches we can get out of the group, we've done it before,” he added, referencing Liverpool's 2012-13 Europa League campaign.
Celtic twice led against Ajax before settling for a 2-2 draw in Amsterdam after they were forced to play the final 15 minutes a man down following the dismissal of Emilio Izaguirre.
Israeli midfielder Nir Biton silenced the
home crowd with an eighth-minute
opener before Viktor Fischer hauled Ajax level on 25 minutes. Celtic then regained the upper hand three minutes before the break as Mikael Lustig powered in a back-post header from a corner.

 

Spurs make winning start in Europe

AFP, PARIS: Tottenham Hotspur kicked off their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday by coming from behind to beat Qarabag 3-1, while Liverpool conceded a late equaliser as they drew 1-1 at Bordeaux. Azerbaijani champions Qarabag grabbed a surprise seventh-minute lead at White Hart Lane when Richard Almeida converted a penalty after being bundled over by Spurs debutant Kieran Trippier. But two goals in the space of two minutes from South Korean striker Son Heung-min and a late strike from Erik Lamela spared Tottenhams blushes as Mauricio Pochettinos side made a winning start to Group J, as Anderlecht against Monaco finished 1-1 in the other match. Earlier, Adam Lallanas sublime second-half goal in France looked destined to hand Liverpool all three points in their Group B opener. But the visitors were pegged back nine minutes from time when substitute Jussie slammed a loose ball beyond Simon Mignolet to salvage a point for Bordeaux. We can always be disappointed to not have won after having led, but in European football, picking up a point away from home is never a bad result, said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers afterwards. If we win our home matches we can get out of the group, weve done it before, he added, referencing Liverpools 2012-13 Europa League campaign. Celtic twice led against Ajax before settling for a 2-2 draw in Amsterdam after they were forced to play the final 15 minutes a man down following the dismissal of Emilio Izaguirre. Israeli midfielder Nir Biton silenced the home crowd with an eighth-minute opener before Viktor Fischer hauled Ajax level on 25 minutes. Celtic then regained the upper hand three minutes before the break as Mikael Lustig powered in a back-post header from a corner.