Europa League: Anderlecht stuns Tottenham, Liverpool held at home | Football News - Hindustan Times
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Europa League: Anderlecht stuns Tottenham, Liverpool held at home

Reuters | By, London
Oct 23, 2015 03:41 PM IST

Jurgen Klopp got a taste of the problems at Liverpool as his first home game as manager ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan who played more than 50 minutes with 10 men in the Europa League on Thursday.

Jurgen Klopp got a taste of the problems at Liverpool as his first home game as manager ended in a frustrating 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan who played more than 50 minutes with 10 men in the Europa League on Thursday.

Tottenham Hotspur's Erik Lamela looks dejected during the Europa League fixture against Anderlecht.(Reuters Photo)
Tottenham Hotspur's Erik Lamela looks dejected during the Europa League fixture against Anderlecht.(Reuters Photo)

As Klopp’s new charges struggled to break down limited Russian opponents, the German’s former side Borussia Dortmund were ruthless with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring a superbly-executed hattrick.

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Dortmund secured a 3-1 win at Azerbaijani outfit Qabala on a night when Anderlecht came from behind to beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in a repetition of 1984 Uefa Cup final and Sporting Lisbon thumped Albanian side Skenderbeu 5-1.

Liverpool's Alberto Moreno in action against Rubin Kazan's Oleg Kuzmin. (Reuters Photo)
Liverpool's Alberto Moreno in action against Rubin Kazan's Oleg Kuzmin. (Reuters Photo)

Spain’s Villarreal continued their bright start to the season with a 4-0 victory over Dinamo Minsk but Fiorentina suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Lech Poznan and former European champions Celtic lost 3-1 at Norwegians Molde.

Klopp had warned Liverpool fans he had no stardust to sprinkle on the squad and magically turn around their poor early-season form and Thursday’s display proved him right.

Kazan silenced the boisterous home crowd when they took the lead through Marko Devic’s superb rising finish but a red card in the 36th minute for captain Oleg Kuzmin changed the dynamic of the match and handed Liverpool a route back.

However, after Emre Can levelled from close range, the hosts huffed and puffed and created little to leave Liverpool trailing Group B leaders Sion by four points.

“Tonight is not an absolute masterclass but it’s not the worst day in my life,” Klopp told reporters.

“Sometimes it’s a big advantage against 10 men. Sometimes it’s a thankless job.”

Klopp’s former frontman Aubameyang continued his scorching form with a superb treble as the Germans strolled to a victory that kept them top of Group C, with seven points from three matches.

Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (C, front) scores his third goal past Qabala's goalkeeper Dmytro Bezotosniy (R) during their Europa League group C soccer match at the Backcell Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Reuters Photo)
Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (C, front) scores his third goal past Qabala's goalkeeper Dmytro Bezotosniy (R) during their Europa League group C soccer match at the Backcell Arena in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Reuters Photo)

Having already bagged 10 Bundesliga goals this season, the Gabon striker opened his Europa League account when he found the top corner after 31 minutes.

He doubled his tally with a poked finish after exchanging passes with Shinji Kagawa seven minutes later and then made the game safe with 18 minutes remaining, when he pounced on a loose ball before Qabala grabbed a late consolation.

Impressive comeback

Anderlecht’s Stefano Okaka bagged their winner against Tottenham in the 75th minute when he fired home from close range to complete an impressive comeback and secure the Belgian team’s first win in Group J.

The Premier League club had made a superb start when Christian Eriksen put them ahead after four minutes as an attempted clearance deflected into his path and he calmly slotted home.

The Belgians, who lost the 1984 final on penalties, were level nine minutes later with Guillaume Gillet arrowing a perfectly-controlled half volley into the net from the edge of the area.

Okaka’s winner moved Anderlecht level with Tottenham on four points, one behind group leaders Monaco, who beat Qarabag 1-0.

Tottenham's Harry Kane (C) vies for the ball with Anderlecht's Steven Dufour (L) and Leander Dendoncker during the UEFA Europa League Group J football match between RSC Anderlecht and Tottenham Hotspur FC at the Constant Vanden Stock stadium, in Brussels. (AFP Photo)
Tottenham's Harry Kane (C) vies for the ball with Anderlecht's Steven Dufour (L) and Leander Dendoncker during the UEFA Europa League Group J football match between RSC Anderlecht and Tottenham Hotspur FC at the Constant Vanden Stock stadium, in Brussels. (AFP Photo)

Napoli’s Manolo Gabbiadini scored twice in a 4-1 triumph at Danish side Midtjylland to maintain their 100% record in Group D while Fenerbahce’s Fernandao netted an 89th-minute goal in a 1-0 win at home to Ajax Amsterdam in Group A.

Lazio saw off Norwegian side Rosenborg Trondheim 3-1 in Group G despite having Brazilian Mauricio sent off after six minutes and it was a dismal night for Fiorentina.

Dawid Kownacki and Maciej Gajos struck in the second half for Polish side Poznan and although Giuseppe Rossi pulled one back for Fiorentina late on, Italian misery was complete when Ante Rebic received a late red card.

Fiorentina have now lost their last three European home games and are at the bottom of Group I.

Schalke 04 stayed top of Group K but could only draw 2-2 at home to Sparta Prague, who trail them by two points, while last season’s beaten finalists Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk were beaten 1-0 at home by St Etienne in Group G.

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