Arsenal win delayed, AC Milan start fast in Europa romp
ALONDON, England (AP): RSENAL WON their first Europa League match in 17 years after a delayed start while AC Milan started fast in subduing hosts Austria Vienna 5-1 yesterday.
Kick-off in Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Cologne was delayed for an hour after thousands of ticketless Cologne fans made it hard for ticketholders to get into Emirates Stadium. About 20,000 Cologne fans came to London, after only 3,000 tickets were allocated to them. Police said four people were arrested for public order offences.
Also, Atalanta struck three times in the first half to hand struggling Everton a 3-0 defeat, Spanish league co-leaders Real Sociedad crushed Rosenborg 4-0, and Lyon drew with Apollon of Cyprus 1-1.
Cologne sit winless on the bottom of the Bundesliga, but their fans, walled off by security guards in the stadium, were celebrating after only nine minutes when Jhon Cordoba lobbed goalkeeper David Ospina from 40 yards out.
It took Arsenal 40 minutes to reply, through substitute Sead Kolasinac. Alexis Sanchez hit the match-winner, and started the move for the last goal, a rebound effort finished by Hector Bellerin.
“We went to four at the back at halftime and the second half was better,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “Kolasinac makes quick decisions, he’s strong in the
tackle and quick going forward. He’s settled in quickly and we’re very pleased to have him.”
MILAN START FAST
Earlier, new AC Milan forward Andre Silva scored a hat-trick. Milan made certain of the result within 20 minutes.
Midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu opened the scoring after seven minutes then set up two for Silva in the 10th and 20th.
“We played quickly, particularly in the first 20 minutes, finishing the game off clinically,” Milan coach Vincenzo Montella said. “This was a big win for us.”
Alexandar Borkovic’s header reduced the deficit early in the second half, Silva completed his hat-trick, and Suso finished the rout just a minute after coming off the bench.
After three years away, AC Milan returned to European competition as perhaps the favourite – at least until December when eight teams jump in as a result of placing third in a Champions League group.
Also, AEK won at Rijeka 2-1 in another Group D game.
EVERTON STRUGGLES
Following consecutive losses
to Chelsea and Tottenham in the English Premier League, Everton went on to struggle in Bergamo. Wayne Rooney failed to impress and his teammates made no difference.
After a 26-year absence in Europe, Atalanta cruised, with all the goals in the first half.
Selected results: Atalanta 3 Everton 0; Austria Vienna 1 AC Milan 5; Basaksehir 0 Ludogorets
0; Dyn. Kiev 3 Skenderbeu 1; FC Copenhagen 0 Lokomotiv Moscow 0; Hoffenheim 1 Braga 2; Rijeka 1 AEK Athens 2; Slavia Prague 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv 0; Villarreal 3 FC Astana 1; Young Boys 1 Partizan 1; H. Beer Sheva 2 Lugano 1; Hertha Berlin 0 Ath Bilbao 0; Marseille 1 Konyaspor 0; Real Sociedad 4 Rosenborg 0; Vitesse 2 Lazio 3; Waregem 1 Nice 5; Arsenal 3 FC Koln 1.