Europa League: Victory in Glasgow – solely tennis balls can decelerate VfB Stuttgart originally | EUROtoday

Thanks to double packers Bilal El Khannouss, Jamie Leweling and Tiago Tomás, VfB Stuttgart has brilliant prospects of reaching the primary European Cup spherical of 16 in 13 years. With the deserved 4:1 (2:1) within the emotional away look at Scottish champions Celtic Glasgow, the Swabians are in an excellent place forward of the playoff second leg within the Europa League subsequent Thursday.

Undeterred by the extraordinary ambiance in Celtic Park, the Moroccan Africa Cup runner-up El Khannouss (fifteenth minute/twenty eighth), nationwide participant Leweling (57th) and Tomás (ninetieth + 3) led the Swabians to success. With their targets they dampened the temper of the Celtic followers, who have been solely allowed to rejoice after captain Atakan Karazor’s deadly dangerous move (twenty first) in their very own penalty space. Benjamin Nygren scored to make it 1-1.

If they progress, the DFB Cup winners coached by Sebastian Hoeneß would face FC Porto or Sporting Braga from Portugal. SC Freiburg, because the second Bundesliga consultant, certified straight for the spherical of the very best 16 within the league section.

VfB slows down the temper within the stands

Apart from the error earlier than the equaliser, the Swabians have been convincing and took away the keenness of the Celtic supporters early on. They weren’t bothered by the weird adversity that VfB’s first European Cup knockout spherical sport since 2013 was interrupted for a couple of minutes after just some seconds. The purpose was not clear on the TV photos. As VfB introduced, Celtic followers threw tennis balls onto the grass.

When issues continued, the fourth-place group within the Bundesliga acquired the beginning they’d hoped for. The start line for the 1-0 was a brief shot from Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel. VfB central defender Finn Jeltsch gained the header duel, Deniz Undav arrange with a backheel. El Khannouss shot comparatively centrally along with his left foot and Schmeichel was unable to parry.

VfB environment friendly after conceding a purpose

When Karazor, who was underneath strain, made an enormous defensive mistake following a move from keeper Alexander Nübel, Nygren had no issues getting across the VfB goalkeeper and pushing in to equalize.

Without this error, the Hoeneß group may have created a snug state of affairs earlier than the break, however then they have been solely narrowly forward. After a deflected cross from Angelo Stiller, Stuttgart went forward once more with El Khannouss’ profitable header.

In doing so, VfB demonstrated the effectivity that had emerged as a weak level of their away appearances within the Europa League in latest months. With each targets, the Celtic protection did not make it too troublesome for El Khannouss.

Defense chief has to observe within the second leg

The 3-1 got here at an necessary time, the normal Scottish membership had simply put just a little extra strain on VfB. Leweling shot from round 20 meters and the ball bounced up on the grass and over the keeper’s proper arm. Ermedin Demirovic and Co. celebrated once more just a little later, however the supposed double strike did not rely as a result of it was offside.

However, quite a few Celtic followers made their method dwelling early. So they did not see Tomás’ purpose in stoppage time. In the second leg, VfB must do with out protection chief Jeff Chabot, who can be lacking on account of a yellow card suspension.