Europa Conference League

TWO Legia Warsaw stars were arrested after their Europa Conference League defeat at AZ Alkmaar.That’s after reportedly breaking a security guard’s elbow in disturbing clashes.
Legia Warsaw stars Josue and Radovan Pankav were arrested after their defeat to AZ AlkmaarCredit: Twitter
The pair reportedly injured a security guard in clashes outside the stadiumCredit: Twitter
Chaotic scenes ensued after the dramatic European match in Holland, which the hosts won 1-0.
Riot police reportedly refused to let some Legia players and staff return to their team bus following the final whistle, having abruptly closed the stadium to prevent fans from clashing.
Polish outlet Sport.TV claims president and owner Dariusz Mioduski was struck in the face during a struggle with armoured cops.
And several members of staff were also said to be hit by batons.
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Video has now emerged of police storming Legia’s team bus before arresting midfielder Josue and defender Radovan Pankov.
Dutch outlet De Telegraaf claims the duo “hit” a security guard “against the wall”, breaking his elbow and giving him a concussion.
They were hauled off the coach by cops before being detained at the local police station.
A Polish source told Sport.TV: “They [the police] didn’t want to listen or talk. The threat of an attack quickly appeared.”
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Riot police reportedly hit Legia’s owner and presidentCredit: Twitter
Players and staff of the Polish team were prevented from leaving the stadium by copsCredit: Twitter
The alleged incident has caused outrage in Poland.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted: “Very disturbing reports coming from Alkmaar.
“I have recommended that the Polish MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) take urgent diplomatic action with a view to establishing the night’s events.
“Polish players and fans must be treated in accordance with the law.”
Polish government spokesman Piotr Mueller told radio station RMF: “The prime minister has informed me that he has asked the diplomatic services to clarify the matter urgently.
“At first glance it arouses serious doubts as to the justifiability of the Dutch authorities’ intervention and the way in which that intervention was conducted.
“The prime minster has recommended that it be urgently checked.”
AZ Alkmaar said: “Our response will follow later. We are in contact with the quadrangle (the club, mayor, police and the Public Prosecution Service).
“Something will definitely come from all of us, but not just one, two, three yet. We want to review the facts first.”
Dutch police told NL Times they couldn’t comment on the alleged incident with the Legia Warsaw team.
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But it’s claimed before the match, a riot police officer was left unconscious after being cornered by away fans who stormed Alkmaar’s stadium.
Batons and pepper spray were apparently stolen from cops, who used tear gas in response. More

SUPER John McGinn rode to the rescue with the dramatic last-gasp winner to hand Unai Emery his 100th victory in European football.Villa fans were resigned to their fate, ready to accept a goalless draw which would have left them bottom of Group E as the seconds ticked down on their chances.
John McGinn scored a last-gasp winner for Aston VillaCredit: Reuters
It is McGinn’s second club goal of the seasonCredit: Reuters
But McGinn had other ideas and Villa’s captain marvel came up with a moment of pure inspiration to finally break the stubborn Bosnians.
Emery’s men were four minutes into six minutes of stoppage time when Matty Cash broke round the back of the visitors defence and clipped in a cross.
Although the ball was behind him McGinn twisted his body and managed to get his head to send the ball beyond Marko Maric to send the Holte End wild.
It was the perfect ending for watching Villa fan Prince William, who celebrated the goal alongside crocked Villa defender Tyrone Mings.
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Villa’s fans had waited 13 years to see their team in group action in Europe but they must have wondered what the fuss was all about after a totally underwhelming first half.
Zrinjski were the first Bosnian side to make it to the group stages in Europe.
Their confidence was high after coming from 3-0 down at half-time to beat AZ Alkmaar 4-3 to top the group after Matchday 1 and they managed to give Villa a couple of early scares.
Emi Martinez had to produce a full length diving save to prevent Nemanja Bilbija firing Zrinjski in front from 10 yards, after Mario Ticinovic opened up Villa’s defence.
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Then Ticinovic cut inside Leander Dendoncker to rifle a shot just over.
Villa’s best chance of a lacklustre first half was a spectacular overhead kick from Nicolo Zaniolo which Marko Maric theatrically punched clear.
Emery had seen enough and sent on Matty Cash, Douglas Luiz and newly restored England man Ollie Watkins at half-time for Digne, Dendoncker and Duran.
It produced a flurry of chances as Villa moved through the gears to set up camp around the Bosnians’ box.
They thought they had finally made a breakthrough when they were awarded a penalty after 54 minutes.
Zaniolo’s cross was headed goalwards by Watkins and came off Slobodan Jakovljevic’s face then his outstretched hand.
But Villa’s joy was short-lived as VAR invited Swiss ref Urs Schnyder to take another look.
And the whistler admitted he had got it wrong after agreeing Jakovljevic had no way of getting his hand out of harm’s way.
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As the Holte End worked itself into a frenzy, Maric spilled a Diego Carlos header and the Brazilian defender failed to force home the rebound and it looked as if Villa would never find a way through.
However McGinn had other ideas. More

A MAN has died after the Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw game last night.Reports say that a 42-year-old fan fell from the Łazienkowski Bridge in Warsaw, while leaving the Pepsi Arena.
Other fans tried to help the man after his fall in WarsawCredit: Dariusz Borowicz / Agencja Wyborcza.pl
Lazienkowski Bridge in Warsaw where the tragic incident took placeCredit: Alamy
The tragic incident took place on Thursday around 9 p.m. after their Europa Conference League match.
The man was resuscitated before unfortunately dying- the spokesman for the downtown police, inspector. Robert Szumiata said.
He was walking with a large group of fans, and according to Polish Press Agency reports might have wanted to shorten his way to the stop and went through the barriers before falling.
According to reports by Gazeta Wyborcza, he tried to jump between the viaduct and the stairs going down.
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Unfortunately, this didn’t work as he “fell into the gap that separates the two structures and then fell from several meters onto the sidewalk at Wisłostrada.”
The fan hasn’t been named.
The tragic incident happened after the first group game in Group E where Legia Warsaw beat Aston Villa 3-2 in a chaotic game in Poland’s capital.
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UNAI EMERY failed to clock up his 100th victory in Europe as Villa lost out in a five-goal thriller in Warsaw.Kosta Runjaic had described this as a David and Goliath clash between the Premier League millionaires and his cut-price heroes.
Legia Warsaw ensured it was a miserable return to Europe for Aston VillaCredit: Reuters
Lucas Digne thought he had done enough to earn the Villans a drawCredit: PA
But the Poles deserved their win as Albanian striker Ernest Muci took care of ‘Goliath,’ with two deadly sling-shot finishes to add to Pawel Wszolek’s third minute opener.
Although Villa fought back to level twice through Jhon Duran and Lucas Digne, they failed to trouble Legia again until three minutes from the end.
The ball fell perfectly for comeback sub Jacob Ramsey but he failed to hit the target from the edge of the box.
Moussa Diaby was then denied by Kacper Tobiasz who raced off his line to block him before Douglas Luiz made it a hat-trick of misses as he curled his shot over in stoppage time.
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Youri Tielemans hit the side net deep in stoppage time but it was too little, way too late for Villa who must now look to get back on the rails when Bosnian outsiders Zrinjski Mostar visit Villa Park in 13 days time.
Poland’s new national manager Michael Probierz was in the stands, just 24 hours after being appointed to his new role.
However, if he was here to check on Matty Cash’s form he was out of luck as the 13-times-capped Polish international started on the bench.
His place was taken by Callum Chambers, one of five changes Emery made from the side which beat Crystal Palace at the weekend.
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The Spaniard will reflect that was a disastrous error and the former Arsenal centre-back was soon exposed in his right-back role as Legia stormed into the lead within three minutes.
Chambers gave Patryk Kun too much space and when the left back crossed Pawel Wszolek dashed in front of Lucas Digne to expertly tuck the ball beyond Emi Martinez.
It was a brilliant start for the Poles and scored by a player who has a history of making life tough for Villa.
As a Queens Park Rangers player, Wszolek faced them five times, scoring once in a 1-0 win in 2018 and providing two further assists.
Yet within three minutes Villa stunned the rowdy 30,000 home fans into silence with a speedy equaliser.
Nicolo Zaniolo spun and turned Radovan Pankov in the middle of the park and burst forward before smashing in a sensational left foot shot from 30 yards.
Legia keeper Kacper Tobiasz managed to push the ball onto his crossbar but John Duran, like all good strikers, followed in to head the ball high into the empty net.
It was the 19-year-old Colombian superkid’s fourth goal in six games and it sent the 1700 Villa fans wild in Warsaw.
But the home side, backed by a passionate full-house, were in the mood and they regained their lead midway through a frantic first half.
Wszolek was the dangerman again as he turned provider this time forcing his cross through Lucas Digne’s challenge.

His deflected cross picked out Ernest Muci, who had left Chambers for dead, to give himself all the time and space he needed to beat Martinez with a crisp right foot half-volley.
It was breathless stuff at times as this pair slogged it out and Martinez did well to deny Marc Gual a third with a super save after 37 minutes.
It was to prove a crucial stop because two minutes later Villa drew level for the second time on the night.
John McGinn’s attempted shot deflected off Yuri Ribeiro into the path of Lucas Digne and the Frenchman rifled a shot which flew into the top bin with the help of a deflection off Wszolek.
Villa ended the half strongly and Tobiasz denied Duran a second as he blocked his close range shot with his legs.
But Villa fell behind again six minutes after the break when Muci was allowed to run from deep and Konsa and Chambers both stood off him long enough to allow him to rifle a low shot in from the edge of the box.
Although Martinez got his fingers to it, the ball bounced in off the far post to restore Legia’s lead.
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Unai Emery had seen enough and made a treble substitution on the hour, sending on big guns Douglas Luiz, Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby for Kamara, Duran and McGinn.
But it was Legia who were in total control and Martinez had to save them from conceding a fourth when he beat out Bartosz Slisz’s long range attempt before Villa’s late flurry of chances. More