Team of The Week

FORMATION : 4-4-2
GK : David James - Portsmouth
RB : Ledley King -Totenham
CB : Christopher Samba - blackburn
CB : Michael Dawson - Tottenham
LB : Gareth Bale - Tottenham

RM: Michael Brown - Porsmouth
CM: Luis Nani - Man. United
CM: Morten Gamst Pedersen - Blackburn
LM: Will Atkinson - Hull
ST : Craig Bellamy - man. City
ST : Nicolas Anelka - Chelsea


Friday, August 28, 2009

Europa League review - Thurs 27th Aug

Everton produced an assured performance to draw with Sigma Olomouc in the Czech Republic and confirm their place in the Europa League group stages.

Aston Villa have been knocked out of the Europa League while Everton and Fulham progress to the group stage.

Aston Villa's hopes of reaching the group stages of the Europa League were ended by a late goal from Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic in the second leg of the qualifier at Villa Park.

Martin O'Neill's side looked to have turned around a 1-0 first leg deficit after a James Milner penalty and John Carew's second half goal had put them ahead on aggregate.

But Jelavic, who had scored for Vienna in the first encounter, had the final say with 14 minutes remaining.

The Toffees, leading 4-0 from the first leg, had Tony Hibbert sent off for a foul on Jakub Petr and Lukas Bajer hit the bar from the resultant free-kick.

But they responded well and Steven Pienaar converted Leon Osman's cross with a fine finish to put the tie to bed.

Pavel Sultes swept in an equaliser from distance but Everton eased through.

Meanwhile, Fulham have booked their place in the Europa League group stage despite losing 1-0 away to Amkar Perm.

Roy Hodgson's men took a 3-1 lead in to the match, having won the first leg at Craven Cottage a week ago.

An understrength Fulham side took to the field, with Hodgson mindful not to exhaust his first-teamers ahead of a trip to Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday.

And the side hung on well until the 90th minute when Martin Kushev netted for the home team. With the score at 2-3 on aggregate, it proved to be merely a consolation as the Cottagers progress to the Europa League proper.

The draw for the group stage will be made on Friday.

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