Astra oust Hammers

LONDON: Romanians Astra handed West Ham United their first competitive defeat at the London Stadium as Slaven Bilic’s team were beaten in the Europa League play-offs on yesterday.

Filipe Teixeira scored the only goal of the night on the stroke of halftime with Astra’s first on-target shot of the match.

Fenerbahce, who appointed much-travelled Dutchman Dick Advocaat as coach earlier this month, beat Grasshoppers 2-0 in Zurich as the Turkish club secured their spot in the group stage with a 5-0 aggregate triumph.

Newcomers Sassuolo followed up their 3-0 first-leg victory with a 1-1 draw in Serbia as they eliminated 1991 European Cup winners Red Star Belgrade. The Italian side, who qualified at the expense of AC Milan, were promoted to Serie A for the first time three years ago and are making their European debut this season.

Sparta Prague substitute Jakub Brabec netted three minutes into stoppage time to give the Czechs a 3-2 win on the night, and on aggregate, against Danes Sonderjysk.