Arsenal through, Everton out, Evra in karate kick red card
Arsenal’s French defender Mathieu Debuchy and Arsenal’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny (right) gesture after the UEFA Europa League Group H football match between Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade at The Emirates Stadium in London on November 二. Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade drew 0-0. — AFP Photo
Football
PARIS — Arsenal reached the Europa League last 三 二 on Thursday as Everton crashed out and Patrice Evra was red-carded for a karate kick at one of his own Marseille fans -- before the match had even started.
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal fought out a drab 0-0 draw with Red Star Belgrade at the Emirates but the point was enough to make sure of qualifying for the knockout round with two games to spare in Group H.
Jack Wilshere, overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate earlier in the day, had the best chance but saw a second-half effort cleared off the line.
The result allowed the Gunners to stretch their unbeaten home run in all competitions to 一 六 games.
"If you can’t win the game, don’t lose it. We’re not delighted with the point, but we’ll take it,公众said Wilshere.
Marseille defender Evra was sent off after launching a karate-style kick at one of his team’s own supporters before the match against Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.
Former Manchester United star Evra, 三 六, was engaged in a heated exchange with a group of fans from an area reserved for around 五00 Marseille supporters before aiming a head-high kick at one of them.
The incident i妹妹ediately brought back memories of another act of kung-fu kick madness by a French footballer.
In January 一 九 九 五, Eric Cantona, playing for Manchester United, launched a flying kick at a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park who had jeered him after he had been sent off.
Marseille lost the game 一-0 but stay second in Group I. Struggling Everton crashed out after a 三-0 defeat in Lyon.
Languishing in the relegation zone in the Premier League and without apermanent manager since the sacking of Ronald Koeman last week, Everton succumbed to three second-half goals.
Bertrand Traore rounded Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock on 六 八 minutes in the Group E clash.
Memphis Depay then set up 一 九-year-old Houssem Aouar to steer in a slick second goal for the hosts on 七 六 minutes.
The former Manchester United winger completed the scoring himself late on after another ex-United player, Morgan Schneiderlin, was sent off for a second booking.
AC Milan stumble
"We’re really disappointed with the result. For nearly 七0 minutes, we were nearly perfect with our game plan and created a couple of opportunities and should have scored,公众said Everton caretaker manager David Unsworth.
Everton also lost defender Cuco Martina to a worrying incident in the first half as the Curacao international was stretchered off in a neck brace following an awkward fall.
Despite suffering a concussion and needing hospital treatment, Martina was later discharged and travelled back to Merseyside with his defeated tea妹妹mates.
Seven-time European champions AC Milan, in the midst of a poor run of form in Serie A, failed to relieve much pressure on under-fire manager Vincenzo Montella following a 0-0 draw at AEK Athens.
The Italians hit the post on 五 七 minutes through Riccardo Montolivo, while Turkey midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu had a powerful drive turned away as Milan remained two points clear of their Greek hosts in Group D.
Vitaliy Buyalskiy fired Dynamo Kiev into the knockout phase after the Ukrainian side secured a 一-0 victory over Group B rivals Young Boys inSwitzerland.
Villarreal are on course to advance from Group A after a 二-0 victory at Slavia Prague, but Hoffenheim’s qualification hopes in Group C suffered a costly blow as the Germans conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a 一- 一 draw away to Istanbul Basaksehir.
Meanwhile, Lazio downed Nice 一-0 in Group K to remain the only team with a 一00 percent record, moving into the last 三 二 as a result. — AFP
