Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport
Philip O'Connor

Milan crash out of Europa League

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos' Kostas Fortounis celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Costas Baltas

(Reuters) - Olympiakos Piraeus pulled off a stunning 3-1 Europa League win over AC Milan that put them into the last 32 and sent the Italians crashing out as the remaining places in the knockout stage were decided on Thursday.

All the goals in Greece came in a thrilling second half, with Milan defender Cristian Zapata scoring an own goal to make it 2-0 to Olympiakos in the 70th minute, before he pulled one back for his side two minutes later.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos' Omar Elabdellaoui in action with AC Milan's Tiemoue Bakayoko REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Yet Milan's defensive frailty was punished when Konstantinos Fortounis scored from the penalty spot in the 81st minute to give his side the win that left them second in Group F on 10 points.

They edged out the seven-times European champions on goal difference and progressed along with group winners Real Betis.

Chelsea dropped points for the first time this season in the competition as they drew 2-2 with Vidi FC in Budapest, but the game was overshadowed by allegations of anti-Semitic chanting by the visiting fans.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos' Giannis Fetfatzidis in action with AC Milan's Ricardo Rodriguez REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Swedish side Malmo pulled off one of the bigger shocks of the round, winning 1-0 away to 10-man Besiktas to finish runners-up behind Genk in Group I.

Besiktas's Ricardo Quaresma was given a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Franz Brorsson in the second half.

Bayer Leverkusen demolished AEK Larnaca 5-1 to finish top of Group A, with FC Zurich finishing runners-up following a 1-1 draw with Ludogorets.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos' Mohamed Camara in action with AC Milan's Tiemoue Bakayoko REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Group C winners Zenit St Petersburg were comfortably beaten 2-0 away by Slavia Prague, who claimed the runners-up spot, rendering Bordeaux's 1-0 win away to FC Copenhagen meaningless as both sides went out.

Celtic, who were beaten 2-1 at home by a Salzburg side that had already secured top spot in Group B, needed a helping hand from Rosenborg.

The Norwegians secured a 1-1 draw at home to RB Leipzig that knocked out the German side and sent the Scottish champions through.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos' Mohamed Camara in action with AC Milan's Hakan Calhanoglu REUTERS/Costas Baltas

Despite a 3-0 thumping by Sevilla, Krasnodar made it out of Group J as Standard Liege could only manage a scoreless draw away to Akhisar.

They will be joined in next Monday's draw for the knockout stage by Villarreal, Rapid Vienna, Dynamo Kiev and Stade Rennais.

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 AC Milan's Franck Kessie in action with Olympiacos' Miguel Angel Guerrero REUTERS/Costas Baltas

(Reporting by Philip O'Connor; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos' Kostas Fortounis scores their third goal from the penalty spot REUTERS/Costas Baltas
Soccer Football - Europa League - Group Stage - Group F - Olympiacos v AC Milan - Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus, Greece - December 13, 2018 Olympiacos fans invade the pitch after the match REUTERS/Costas Baltas
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.