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Rediff.com  » Sports » Europa League PHOTOS: Liverpool lose in shootout; Sevilla win

Europa League PHOTOS: Liverpool lose in shootout; Sevilla win

February 27, 2015 10:58 IST
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Images from the Europa League matches played on Thursday

Liverpool players look dejected as Demba Ba of Besiktas (9) celebrates after Dejan Lovren of Liverpool misses the decisive kick in the penalty shootout

Liverpool players look dejected as Demba Ba of Besiktas (9) celebrates after Dejan Lovren of Liverpool misses the decisive kick in the penalty shootout during their UEFA Europa League Round of 32 second leg match in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Liverpool's Europa League campaign ended at the scene of one of their greatest European triumphs as they lost 5-4 on penalties to Besiktas in the Ataturk Stadium on Thursday on a woeful night for British clubs.

Brendan Rodgers's side were the highest profile casualties of the last 32, where holders Sevilla came through a testing encounter at Borussia Moenchengladbach, winning 3-2 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.

But in a sign that Italian teams may not be the dying force in Europe they are sometimes made out to be, AS Roma were joined in the last 16 by compatriots Inter Milan, Fiorentina, Torino and Napoli.

Roma overcame crowd trouble and the temporary suspension of their match in Feyenoord to win 2-1 in a fiery atmosphere in Rotterdam and clinch a 3-2 success over the two legs.

The only British representatives in the last 16, however, will be Everton, who saw off Young Boys 7-2 on aggregate, after Premier League Tottenham Hotspur were beaten 2-0 at Fiorentina and Celtic had their hopes ended in a 1-0 defeat by Inter.

Necip Uysal of Besiktas outjumps Raheem Sterling of Liverpool

Necip Uysal of Besiktas outjumps Raheem Sterling of Liverpool. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Turkish side Besiktas won their clash with Liverpool after Dejan Lovren missed the decisive penalty after the match ended 1-1 on aggregate following Besiktas's 1-0 win on the night.

Croatia centre back Lovren blasted his effort high and wide to spark wild celebrations at the ground where Liverpool beat AC Milan on penalties 10 years ago to clinch a fifth European Cup.

The Merseysiders were playing at the Ataturk Stadium for the second time since their stunning 2005 comeback victory against Milan but, with club captain Steven Gerrard injured, had no surviving members of that side on the field against Besiktas.

They picked an attacking lineup but were second best most of the night and Tolgay Arslan's crisp, curling effort after 72 minutes from the edge of the area levelled the aggregate score and took the game into extra time and eventually penalties.

The first nine of both team's spot kicks found their target, but Lovren stepped up, leant back and sent his effort high over the bar sparking raucous home celebrations.

The statuesque Croat was perhaps an odd choice to take a penalty, but boss Rodgers defended the decision.

"We were happy with the penalty takers and Dejan was confident. We're obviously disappointed for him, because I felt in the game he played very well."

Feyenoord-Roma match interrupted by crowd trouble         

Adem Ljajic of AS Roma celebrates his goal against Feyenoord during their Europa League round of 32 second leg match at the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam

Adem Ljajic of AS Roma celebrates his goal against Feyenoord during their Europa League round of 32 second leg match at the Kuip stadium in Rotterdam on Thursday. Michael Kooren/Reuters

Roma's passage into the last 16 was fraught after French referee Clement Turpin took the players off for more than 10 minutes after the home fans threw objects onto the pitch, including a giant plastic banana.

After Adem Ljajic gave Roma the lead and Elvis Manu had levelled for Feyenoord, who had Mitchell Te Vrede sent off which sparked the trouble, Gervinho netted the winner when he converted Vasilis Torosidis's cross from he right.

Feyenoord's Europa League match with AS Roma was suspended for 10 minutes in the second half on Thursday when home supporters hurled objects onto the field after one of the Dutch side's players had been sent off.

The game, considered high risk after Feyenoord fans went on the rampage in Rome before last week's opening leg, was also briefly halted in the first half as match officials removed a giant plastic banana which was thrown onto the pitch.

Roma, who won 2-1, were leading 1-0 when the referee led the players off the pitch in the 55th minute of the last 32 second leg match, after Feyenoord's Mitchell Te Vrede was given a straight red card for a dangerous tackle from behind.

The teams returned about 10 minutes later and almost immediately substitute Elvis Manu equalised for the hosts, who had substitute goalkeeper Erwin Mulder sent from the bench for an incident during the celebrations.

However, Ivory Coast forward Gervinho put Roma 2-1 in front three minutes later to give them a 3-2 win on aggregate.

“It was right to suspend play as we could have opened a shop with all the objects that were thrown from the stands,” Roma coach Rudi Garcia told Italy's Mediaset channel.

The match was staged in a tense atmosphere after Feyenoord fans went on the rampage before last week's first leg in Rome, causing damage to a 500-year-old fountain which experts said could not be repaired.

The Barcaccia, a boat-shaped fountain at the foot of the Spanish Steps, was chipped by beer bottles thrown and kicked by Dutch supporters.

Police fired teargas to clear hundreds of fans and detained 23 of them. Six more were later arrested for causing injury, resisting arrest and insulting public officials.

Three-times winners Sevilla were twice pegged back by their German hosts, who had goalscorer Granit Xhaka sent off, before Vitolo rounded off a counter attack in the 79th minute with his second goal to complete the victory.

Inter edged Scottish champions Celtic 1-0 to go through 4-3 on aggregate after a high-scoring first leg was followed by a cagey return in Italy where Fredy Guarin got an 88th minute winner.

Inter's Serie A rivals Fiorentina beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 on aggregate with German striker Mario Gomez and on loan Chelsea player Mohamed Salah scoring in the second half.

Two goals from Jose Rondon helped Zenit St Petersburg ease past PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in their second leg in Russia to complete a 4-0 aggregate success.

Ajax Amsterdam, Villarreal, Dinamo Moscow, Dynamo Kiev, VfL Wolfsburg, Club Brugge and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk also booked spots in the last 16 of Europe's second tier competition which this season brings a Champions League spot for the winners.

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Source: REUTERS
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