Shocks, novelty and a goal for Platini as EL takes off
Saturday, 19 September 2009
PARIS, Sept 18 (AFP): The group stage of the inaugural Europa League (EL) got underway Thursday, with pre-tournament favourites Roma, Lazio and Hamburg all succumbing to surprise defeats in their opening matches.
Roma, with Claudio Ranieri at the helm for his first European assignment at the club, went down 2-0 at Swiss side Basel in Group E, while German league leaders Hamburg were stunned 3-0 by Rapid Vienna in Group C.
An injury-time goal from Marc Janko earned Red Bull Salzburg a shock 2-1 comeback win at Roma's city rivals Lazio, enabling Villarreal to steal a march in Group G with a 1-0 home win over Levski Sofia.
European football's governing body UEFA is using the tournament to trial the deployment of extra referee assistants behind each goal-line and the officials were an eye-catching if uncontroversial presence on the night.
The extra officials are the brain-child of UEFA president Michel Platini, and the Frenchman was doubly assured of a place in the headlines after his namesake - a Brazilian striker called Michel whose nickname is Platini - scored the opening goal in CSKA Sofia's 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Shakhtar Donetsk, who beat Werder Bremen in the last ever UEFA Cup final in May, began their defence with a 4-1 win at Club Brugge in Group C, while Everton trounced AEK Athens 4-0 in Group I but had Louis Saha sent off following an injury-time altercation with visiting defender Juanfran.
Roma, with Claudio Ranieri at the helm for his first European assignment at the club, went down 2-0 at Swiss side Basel in Group E, while German league leaders Hamburg were stunned 3-0 by Rapid Vienna in Group C.
An injury-time goal from Marc Janko earned Red Bull Salzburg a shock 2-1 comeback win at Roma's city rivals Lazio, enabling Villarreal to steal a march in Group G with a 1-0 home win over Levski Sofia.
European football's governing body UEFA is using the tournament to trial the deployment of extra referee assistants behind each goal-line and the officials were an eye-catching if uncontroversial presence on the night.
The extra officials are the brain-child of UEFA president Michel Platini, and the Frenchman was doubly assured of a place in the headlines after his namesake - a Brazilian striker called Michel whose nickname is Platini - scored the opening goal in CSKA Sofia's 1-1 draw against Fulham.
Shakhtar Donetsk, who beat Werder Bremen in the last ever UEFA Cup final in May, began their defence with a 4-1 win at Club Brugge in Group C, while Everton trounced AEK Athens 4-0 in Group I but had Louis Saha sent off following an injury-time altercation with visiting defender Juanfran.