Manchester United and Schalke endured late scares but both advanced to the Europa League’s round of 16 as play concluded across Europe on Thursday night.
Manchester United lost at home to Ajax 2-1 but, thanks to their performance last week in Amsterdam, squeaked through 3-2 on aggregate. Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored a vital goal for United before a determined Ajax fought back through Armenian international Aras Ozbiliz and then pressed the Red Devils for over an hour.
Sparked by Miralem Sulejmani and a superb defensive performance by Jan Vertonghen, Ajax gave United another nervous night at home, one that would have reminded many in stands of the team's grim show against Basel. David De Gea was forced to make a series of increasingly vital interventions as Sir Alex Ferguson’s decision to play a youthful back line nearly cost the Premier League giants dearly.
It was an old head who saw the game out for United, as Paul Scholes proved invaluable in stifling Ajax. When Toby Alderweireld’s game-winner came, only two minutes remained on the clock, and there was no time for the Dutch to pull off what would have been a massive upset. Ferguson would tell the media after the game that his starting lineup was “too great a risk.”
United’s nervy win set up a meeting with Athletic Bilbao after Iker Muniain played hero in Spain. Marcelo Bielsa's club did just enough to eliminate Lokomotiv Moscow, riding Munain’s 62nd minute goal to a 1-0 victory. Athletic advanced thanks to the away goal they scored in Russia in the first leg, 2-2 on aggregate.
Muniain was at the back post to turn in Fernando Llorente's knock-on to a corner just two minutes after the Spaniards had been reduced to 10 men. After Fernando Amorebieta collected his second yellow card, Lokomotiv was unable to apply the sustained pressure required over the final 30 minutes to get the goal they would need to advance.
Schalke finally dispatched of 10-man Plzen thanks to a Klaus-Jan Huntelaar hat-trick, but it wasn’t easy. Frantisek Rajtoral tied things up 1-1 in the 88th minute after a bad defensive error and Schalke needed all of extra time to finally bring the hammer down, winning 3-1 (4-2 on aggregate) in a frustrating performance. Jermaine Jones did not play for the Germans.
Schalke now face Twente after Steve McClaren’s men got the job done in the Netherlands. A 29th minute goal from Nacer Chadli gave Twente the 1-0 win on the night and a 2-0 aggregate line against Steaua Bucharest.
Hannover captain Steve Cherundolo wasn't needed as his Hannover team saw off Club Brugge 1-0 in Belgium to complete a 3-1 aggregate success. Mame Biram Diouf scored the only goal in the 21st minute, finishing a play made by Lars Stindl. A heavy pitch made it hard for either team to play attractive football.
Hannover will face Standard Liege after the Belgians played to a scoreless draw against Wisla Krakow. They eliminated the Poles on away goals after the first leg finished 1-1.
Jozy Altidore’s AZ Alkmaar upset Sacha Kljestan’s Anderlecht 1-0 (2-0 aggregate) behind a shock goal from Maarten Martens. Anderlecht had been well on top in the match, but once Marten’s goal went in, the life drained out of the Belgians. Kljestan’s side had gone unbeaten in the group stage; Altidore was a first-half sub.
Altidore’s team will face and Udinese side that needed just six minutes to get on top in Greece. Danilo converted from Giovanni Pasquale early and the Serie A team cruised to an eventual 3-0 triumph after being held 0-0 at home in the first leg.
Valencia's Jonas scored the lone goal to complete a 2-0 aggregate win over Stoke City at the Estadio Mestalla in a sloppy match that degenerated into a push-and-shove affair down the stretch. Stoke had some early opportunities but looked a class below their opponent after losing the first leg at home by a similar score.
Valencia’s next opponent is PSV Eindhoven. Tim Matvaz scored twice for the Dutch side which easily saw off Trabzonspor, 4-1 on the night and 6-2 on aggregate. The Turks were not helped when goalkeeper Tolga Zengin saw a red card just before halftime.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid beat Lazio 1-0 and 4-1 on aggregate in a stroll in Spain. Godin’s fine header was the difference but the overall result was never in doubt. The Spaniards will face Besiktas after they withstood a late fightback that saw them lose today’s match 1-0 but win 2-1 on aggregate. Braga peppered Cenk Gonen all night and scorer Lima was unlucky not to have another after he had a late shot blocked well.
Metalist whipped Red Bull Salzburg 4-1 to see out the tie 8-1 on aggregate; they face an Olympiakos team that eased past Rubin Kazan 1-0 (2-0 on aggregate).
Oguchi Onyewu is out injured long-term, but even without him Sporting got a deserved 1-0 win over Legia Warsaw thanks to Matias Fernandez. Sporting were never in serious danger having collected two away goals in their first leg 2-2 draw. Sporting of course get to face Manchester City, which eliminated defending champs Porto yesterday in style.
