Sevilla force a draw against Shakhtar
London, March 9:
Enzo Maresca’s penalty two minutes from the end salvaged a 2-2 draw for defending UEFA Cup champion Sevilla against Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday.
Sevilla seemed to be moving confidently towards a place in the last eight when Jose Luis Marti scored with an eighth-minute penalty. But the Ukraine team hit back with Tomas Hubschman’s 19th-minute equaliser and a 60th-minute penalty by Matuzalem.
Maresca made it 2-2 from the spot in the 88th after he was fouled by Olexiy Gay. Shakhtar has the slight advantage of away goals when the two teams meet again in Donetsk next Thursday.
On a poor night for the four Spanish clubs trying to reach the last eight, Osasuna conceded an injury time-equaliser to finish 1-1 with Rangers, and Celta Vigo lost 1-0 to Werder Bremen. Espanyol earned a 0-0 draw at Maccabi Haifa. Hugo Almeida scored for Bremen with six minutes remaining, leaving Celta Vigo to deal with a home defeat and tough road to reach the last eight. Osasuna led through Raul Garcia but Rangers hit back through Brahim Hemdani.
Newcastle beat AZ Alkmaar 4-2 with Obafemi Martins scoring twice. An own goal by Gretar Steinsson and two goals in a minute by Kieron Dyer and Martins gave the Magpies a 3-0 lead inside the first 23 minutes. Shota Arveladze hit back for the Dutch club in the 31st but Martins made it 4-1 in the 37th. Danny Koevermans scored a second for AZ in the 72nd. Paris Saint-Germain rallied from a goal down to edge Benfica 2-1. Lens edged Bayer Leverkusen 2-1.