French Lyon became the first player to qualify for the Europa League final of the Europa League, defeating Czech Republic’s Sparta Brock 3-0 on Thursday in the fourth round of the first group stage.
Lyon waited in the second half for their Algerian international striker Islam Slimani to settle for a fourth victory in the 61st and 64th minutes with a double in three minutes.
Lyon beat Czech capital Sparta Brock 4-3 in the third round, with their live chaser Glasgow Rangers benefiting from a draw with Romanian Johns Hockey on one goal and Nigerian defender Leon Balokun on one. Own goal in the 45th minute.
Lyon increased their score to 12 points, eight points ahead of Sparta Brock and Rangers, while Brantby raised his score to two points in last place.
Under the new system of competition, eight-team winners qualify for the second round, while runner-up clubs play in the playoffs with third-placed eighth-placed teams in the European Champions League.
West Ham United failed to follow in Lyon’s lead in Group H with their fourth win of the season when they fell into a draw 2-2 against their Belgian host Jenk.
West Ham United trailed in the 1,000th game of their Scottish coach David Moyes’ training career, with Algerian international Syed Benrahma giving them a double lead in the fifth minute with an opening goal from Ghanaian Joseph Paints. In the 59th and 82nd minutes, his Czech international midfielder, Thomas Sochik, lost three points and a qualifier by erroneously equalizing for the hosts on his own goal.
West Ham United secured their place in the lead with 10 points, four points ahead of Dynamo Kiev, who finished second after beating their guest Rapid Vienna 3-1, the latter falling down the rankings after its count. Three points, one point behind Jenk.
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