Sports

Betis, Sociedad advance in Europa League; Man Utd, Arsenal edge closer

Sports Desk, Oct 13 (EFE).- Real Sociedad and Real Betis secured spots in the 2022-2023 Europa League knockout round with their results Thursday, while Arsenal and Manchester United both won to move within striking distance of qualifying.

Sociedad, who came into the match against Sheriff Tiraspol having won all three of their previous games, played nearly two-thirds of the contest with a man advantage after visiting defender Armel Zohouri picked up a second yellow card in the 33rd minute.

Alexander Sorloth put the hosts on the board in first-half stoppage time and Diego Rico and Robert Navarro added goals in the second half to complete a 3-0 drubbing of the side from Transnistria.

With two games left, the Basque club lead Group E on 12 points, 3 ahead of Man United and 9 better than Sheriff.

At Old Trafford, United had nearly 80 percent possession and outshot Omonoia 34-3, but still needed a stoppage-time goal from Scott McTominay to eke out a 1-0 victory.

Omonoia goalkeeper Francis Uzoho produced a spectacular performance, making a dozen saves.

Hosting AS Roma in Seville a week after beating Jose Mourinho’s men in the Italian capital, Betis went ahead in the 34th minute with a goal by Sergio Canales.

But Andrea Belotti equalized for Roma in the 53rd minute after having a goal called back for offside in first-half stoppage time.

And the Italian international appeared to put his team ahead seconds later, but that goal was also disallowed for an offside infraction and the 1-1 held.

Betis remain atop Group C with 10 points, followed by Ludogorets, Roma and already eliminated HJK. Though Roma could conceivably end the group stage level with Betis, but the Spanish team would prevail in any tiebreaker by virtue of the head-to-head record.

Bukayo Saka’s goal in the 24th minute proved to be all Arsenal would need to best Bodo/Glimt 1-0 and improve to 9 points from three matches, good enough for first place in Group A.

Second place belongs to PSV Eindhoven, who pounded FC Zurich 5-0 to boost their total to 7 points from three games. Bodo/Glimt are on 4 points after four matches and Zurich remain without a point. EFE /dr

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