Advertisement
Wu Lei’s Espanyol reach Uefa Europa League group stage after holding Zorya to draw
- 5-3 aggregate win puts the Spaniards in the hat for the group stage draw
- Result sees Espanyol equal long-standing Uefa record
1-MIN READ1-MIN
China forward Wu Lei had to settle for a place among the substitutes on Thursday night, but will get his chance to perform on Europe’s big stage after his Espanyol teammates negotiated their way past Ukraine’s Zorya Luhansk and into the group stages of this season’s Uefa Europa League.
A 2-2 draw on the night in Ukraine saw the Spanish side through 5-3 on aggregate and means they will occupy pot three when the draw is made in Monte Carlo at 6pm (Hong Kong time) on Thursday.
The “Periquitos’” return to the Europa League after a 12-year absence and could find themselves grouped with top seeds Sevilla, Arsenal, Roma or Manchester United when the next round commences on September 19.
Advertisement
A stubborn Zorya twice clawed back their Spanish opponents in a tight encounter, but the first leg-buffer, aided by Wu’s goal in the home tie – Espanyol’s quickest in European competition, meant the visitors were never under serious pressure.
The result, which saw Facundo Ferreyra and Bogdan Lednev get on the scoresheet, meant Espanyol equalled Ajax’s record of 21 games without defeat in European competition.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x