Cologne and Berlin wrap up victories in UEFA Europa League

BERLIN: Yuya Osako’s brace helped Cologne overpower Bate Borisov 5-2, while Hertha Berlin moved past Zorya 2-0 on double strikes from Davie Selke in the fourth round of the Europa League group stage.

Cologne got their first win in Europe on Thursday after crushing resilient Bate Borisov with four second-half goals in Group H, reports Xinhua news agency.

Cologne secured a bright start in front of the home crowd as Simon Zoller opened the scoring after capitalising on a through ball from Salih Oezcan 16 minutes into the game.

The visitors from Belarus stayed strong and responded through Nemanja Milunovic, who tapped home a free kick from Aleksei Rios to restore parity.

Bate gained momentum and turned the tide after Rios’ pinpoint cross found Nikolai Signevich, who made it 2-1 on the scoreboard with an overhead kick two minutes later.

Cologne wobbled and needed half time to recover from Bate’s comeback. However, it took the “Billy Goats” nine minutes in the second half to level the scores as Bate failed to clear the ball from the area, allowing substitute Yuya Osako to slot home from close range.

The hosts gained momentum and grabbed the lead for a second time as Sehrou Guirassy unleashed a free-kick hammer to get his name on the score sheets in the 63rd minute.

Cologne weren’t done with the scoring, and added another two goals through Osako, who sealed his brace as well as through Milos Jojic, who headed home the 5-2 lead in the dying minutes of the game.

After the fourth round, Arsenal leads Group H with 10 points, followed by Crvena Zvezda (five), Bate Borisov (four) and Cologne (three).

Elsewhere, Hertha Berlin edged Zorya Luhansk 2-0 on two goals from Davie Selke to keep their campaign in Europe alive.

Selke smoothed the way for the crucial victory 16 minutes into the match before he made the game safe in the 73rd minute with his second goal of the night.

Oestersunds tops Group J with seven points, followed by Zorya Luhansk (six), Athletic Club (five) and Hertha Berlin (four). PARIS: Arsenal reached the Europa League last 32 as Everton crashed out and Patrice Evra was red-carded for a karate kick at one of his own Marseille fans — before the match had even started.

Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal fought out a drab 0-0 draw with Red Star Belgrade at the Emirates but the point was enough to make sure of qualifying for the knockout round with two games to spare in Group H.

Jack Wilshere, overlooked by England manager Gareth Southgate earlier in the day, had the best chance but saw a second-half effort cleared off the line.

The result allowed the Gunners to stretch their unbeaten home run in all competitions to 16 games.

“If you can’t win the game, don’t lose it. We’re not delighted with the point, but we’ll take it,” said Wilshere.

Veteran Marseille defender Evra was sent off after launching a karate-style kick at one of his team’s own supporters before the match against Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.

Former Manchester United star Evra, 36, was engaged in a heated exchange with a group of fans from an area reserved for around 500 Marseille supporters before aiming a head-high left-footed kick at one of them.

“Pat has experience, and he must not react, it’s obvious,” said Marseille coach Rudi Garcia whose side lost 1-0 and had Boubacar Kamara sent off three minutes from time.

“Patrice is a more than just an experienced player. You can’t respond to insults as bad as they are and as incredible as they might be because they come from one of our supporters. “He must learn to keep his cool.”

The incident immediately brought back memories of another act of kung-fu kick madness by a French footballer.

In January 1995, Eric Cantona, playing for Manchester United, launched a flying kick at a Crystal Palace supporter at Selhurst Park who had jeered him after he had been sent off.

Struggling Everton crashed out after a 3-0 defeat in Lyon.

Languishing in the relegation zone in the Premier League and without a permanent manager since the sacking of Ronald Koeman last week, Everton succumbed to three second-half goals.

Bertrand Traore rounded Jordan Pickford to break the deadlock on 68 minutes in the Group E clash.

Memphis Depay then set up 19-year-old Houssem Aouar to steer in a slick second goal for the hosts on 76 minutes.

The former Manchester United winger completed the scoring himself late on after another ex-united player, Morgan Schneiderlin, was sent off for a second booking.