Europa League: Group-Stage Play Opens With Gunners, Yellow Canaries, Sheriff, Sociedad, Monaco Collecting Victories

 Group-Stage play in the Europa League commenced on Thursday with 16 games.

GROUP A:

At St. Gallen, Switzerland:

Edward Nkethiah scored the winning goal in the 62nd minute as Arsenal defeated FC Zurich 2-1 on the road.

At Eindhoven, Netherlands:

Cody Gakpo's equalizer at 62 minutes carried PSV Eindhoven to a 1-1 home draw with Bodo/Glimt.

Albert Gronbaek scored for the Norwegian club in the 44th minute.

Group A Standings:

1. Arsenal (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

2. Bodo/Glimt (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)

3. PSV Eindhoven (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)

4. FC Zurich (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

GROUP B:

At Larnaca, Cyprus:

Lorenz Assignon scored the stoppage-time game winner (90'+4) as Rennes stimpied hosts AEK Larnaca 2-1.

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Michy Batshuai-Atunga scored the game-winning goal in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time as Fenerbahce defeated visiting Dinamo Kiev 2-1.

Group B Standings:

1. Fenerbahce (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

2. Rennes (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. AEK Larnaca (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. Dynamo Kiev (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0

GROUP C:

At Razgrad, Bulgaria:

Gustavo Nonato Santana scored the winning goal at 88 minutes as Ludogorets Razgrad defeated visiting AS Roma 2-1.

At Helsinki, Finland:

Willian Jose scored both goals (45'+3, PK-64') in Real Betis' 2-0 road victory over HJK Helsinki.

Group C Standings:

1. Real Betis (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)

2. Ludogorets Razgrad (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. AS Roma (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. HJK Helsinki (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

GROUP D:

At Malmo, Sweden:

Bruno Rodrigues (30') and Ricardo Horta (PK-70') delivered the scoring as Sporting Braga blanked Malmo FF 2-0 on the road.

At Berlin:

Senne Lynen scored the game's lone goal in the 39th minute as Union Saint-Gilloise knocked off ten-man hosts Union Berlin 1-0.

Group D Standings:

1. Sporting Braga (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)

2. Union Saint-Gilloise (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. Union Berlin (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. Malmo FF (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

GROUP E:

At Manchester, England:

Brais Mendez converted a penalty kick in the 59th minute for the only goal of Real Sociedad's 1-0 road win over Manchester United.

At Nicosia, Cyprus:

Rasheed Akanbi (2'), Iyayi Atiemwen (PK-55'), and Mouhamed Diop (76') each scored once as FC Sheriff dominated hosts Omonia 3-0.

Group E Standings:

1. FC Sheriff (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)

2. Real Sociedad (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. Manchester United (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. Omonia (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)

GROUP F:

At Rome:

Matias Vecino scored twice (28', 63') as Lazio doubled up visiting Feyenoord Rotterdam 4-2.

At Graz, Austria:

Emanuel Emegha scored the lone goal of Strum Graz's 1-0 victory over visiting FC Midtylland in the eighth minute.

Group F Standings:

1. Lazio (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)

2. Sturm Graz (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. FC Midtjylland (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. Feyenoord Rotterdam (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

GROUP G:

At Nantes, France:

Evann Guessand scored the stoppage-time game winner (90'+3) as Nantes defeated visiting Olympiacos 2-1.

At Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany:

Ritsu Doan scored the winning goal in the 15th minute as SC Freiburg held off guests Qarabag 2-1.

Group G Standings:

1. Nantes (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

2. SC Freiburg (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. Olympiacos (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. Qarabag (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

GROUP H:

At Belgrade, Serbia:

Breel Embolo converted a penalty kick in the 74th minute to carry AS Monaco to a 1-0 road win over Red Star Belgrade.

At Budapest, Hungary:

Tokmac Nguen scored twice (5', PK-44') and Adamo Traore once (29') as Ferencvaros topped visiting Trabzonspor 3-2.

Group H Standings: 

1. Ferencvaros (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

2. AS Monaco (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)

3. Trabzonspor (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)

4. Red Star Belgrade (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS; 0)

NOTE:  Ferencvaros has scored three goals while AS Monaco has scored one in their respective Thursday victories.