European Round-up: Hearts brush past Omonia in Conference League, Rangers thrash FCSB
ByOli Gent
Updated 24/10/2024 at 22:20 GMT+1
Heart of Midlothian continued their winning start to their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Omonia at Tynecastle. The Scottish side, who sit second-bottom in the Scottish Premiership, went ahead on 16 minutes through Alan Forrest before Blair Spittal doubled the lead. In the UEFA Europa League, Rangers beat FCSB 4-0, with Vaclav Cerny bagging a brace.
'Hearts are on fire! - Spittal's 'sensational' strike into top corner makes it 2-0
Video credit: TNT Sports
Hearts' unbeaten start to their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign continued with a 2-0 win over Omonia at Tynecastle.
Neil Critchley's side, who are second-bottom in the Scottish Premiership, went in at the break two goals to the good thanks to Alan Forrest's 16th-minute strike, before Blair Spittal made it two seven minutes later with a neat finish after he was teed up by Kenneth Vargas.
It follows the Scots' narrow 2-1 win over Dinamo Minsk on matchday one. Critchley has two wins from two since his arrival as new manager last week, steering his side to a 4-0 rout over St Mirren last weekend.
Elsewhere in the Conference League, Fiorentina overcame a tricky test at Swiss side St. Gallen, coming from behind to win a rollercoaster game 4-2.
Lucas Martinez Quarta and Jonathan Ikone's goals cancelled out Felix Mambimbi's opener, but they were pegged back when Lukas Gortler equalised on 62 minutes. However, Ikone doubled his tally seven minutes late to put La Viola back in front, and Robin Gosens, the left-back on loan from Union Berlin, added a fourth late on in the third minute of stoppage time.
Larne, who became the first Northern Irish team to qualify for a group stage of any UEFA competition since 1977, were beaten heavily by Shamrock Rovers, of the Republic of Ireland, who ran out 4-1 winners. Joshua Honohan and Johnny Kenny had them two up within 24 minutes, before an own goal from Tomas Cosgrove made it three.
Christopher Gallagher halved the deficit three minutes into the second half, but former Aston Villa winger Graham Burke notched a fourth just five minutes later to wrap up the three points for Shamrock.
There was late drama in Belgium as Archibald Norman Brown's winner in the 95th minute gave the home side victory over Molde, after Mats Moller Daehli, the former Cardiff City midfielder, had cancelled out Noah Fadiga's opener.
Istanbul Basaksehir, who famously beat Manchester United 2-1 in November 2020, were hammered 5-1 by Slovenian side Celje, as Armandas Kucys struck a brace, while Dion Drena Beljo's 31st-minute goal was enough for Rapid Vienna to beat Noah.
Real Betis, managed by former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Copenhagen, and The New Saints, the Welsh side, beat Astana 2-0 with goals from Rory Holden and Declan McManus from the penalty spot.
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'Proper team goal' - Cerny slots home after dynamite Rangers counter-attack
Video credit: TNT Sports
rangers put four past fscb, Ajax beat Qarabag
In the UEFA Europa League, Rangers had their shooting boots on as they hit four past FCSB.
Vaclay Cerny got two, while Tom Lawrence opened the scoring on 10 minutes, before Hamza Igamane wrapped the game up by slotting into the far corner for his first goal for the club.
Philippe Clement's Gers, who reached the final of this competition back in 2022, bounced back in the ideal manner from their 4-1 loss at Lyon to move up to 11th in the Europa League table.
Lyon lost at home to Besiktas, who left the Groupama Stadium with a 1-0 win, courtesy of former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gedson Fernandes.
Also, Ajax defeated nine-man Qarabag, beating the Azerbaijani side 3-0 in Baku.
Kenneth Taylor, Wout Weghorst, and Chuba Akpom's goals proved the difference on a tricky night for Francesco Farioli's team, which featured former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson in midfield.
Julio Romao was dismissed in the 15th minute for a foul on Mika Godts, before Elvin Cafarguliyev followed him into the dressing room for an early bath as he was shown a second yellow card.
There was a shock in Hungary as Ferencvaros, who ran Tottenham Hotspur close on matchday two, beat Nice 1-0 thanks to an own goal from Moise Bombito.
Roma snuck past Dynamo Kyiv 1-0 after Artem Dovbyk's penalty, while Real Sociedad defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv with goals from Jon Pacheco and former Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez.
Athletic Bilbao beat Slavia Prague 1-0 thanks to Nico Williams' goal, while Pedro and Gustav Isaksen were the match-winners as Lazio defeated FC Twente, who had Lars Unnerstall sent off.
Porto defeated Hoffenheim 2-0 at the Estadio do Dragao, while Anderlecht came through Ludogorets 1-0 and Olympiacos beat Malmo by the same score.
Eintracht Frankfurt, winners of this competition back in 2022 under Oliver Glasner, seemed as though they were to be held to a goalless draw at home to Latvian outfit RFS, but Hugo Larsson's goal on 79 minutes helped them to a 1-0 win.
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‘We have a lifeline’ – Gallagher hits long-range effort to get Larne back in game
Video credit: TNT Sports
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