Football-Sportclub

Thomas Tuchel hails Borussia Dortmund match-winner Park Joo-ho

Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel hailed last-gasp match-winner Park Joo-ho after his side came from behind to beat Krasnodar 2-1 in their Europa League opener.

New signing Park marked his first appearance for the German side by heading home a decisive goal in injury time from a Matthias Ginter cross.

Park had earlier set up Ginter's equaliser after Pavel Mamaev had given the Russians an early lead in the Group C encounter at Signal Iduna Park.

Tuchel said in his post-match press conference: "I know Park Joo-ho and I know that you can rely on him 100 per cent.

"It was not easy for him – new team, new surroundings, various positions. It took him a while to find his flow, but he worked through it. This bears witness to his great heart.

"Park had to fight some cramps during the game, so it's impressive that he went for the winner in the final minutes."

Dortmund were not at their fluent best but the result maintained their fine start to the season, having now won 10 in succession since Tuchel took charge.

The Germans did dominate the second half but Tuchel acknowledged his team made a sluggish start.

He said: "It took a long time to find our way into the game. I thought our passing and body language looked sloppy.

"We needed time to get used to new personnel and positions. We had a few defensive mishaps and overlooked some spaces offensively."

Ronny Deila rues red card to Emilio Izaguirre as Celtic draw with Ajax

Ronny Deila claims Celtic would have beaten Ajax in their Europa League Group A opener in Amsterdam had Emilio Izaguirre not been sent off - but was reluctant to criticise his full-back.

Ronny Deila claims Celtic would have beaten Ajax in their Europa League Group A opener in Amsterdam had Emilio Izaguirre not been sent off - but was reluctant to criticise his full-back.

The Parkhead side looked in control of the match, leading 2-1 after right-back Mikael Lustig headed them into an interval lead in the 42nd minute. Ajax midfielder Viktor Fischer had previously cancelled out Nir Bitton's eighth-minute opener.

However, when Izaguirre was dismissed in the 73rd minute by referee Luca Banti for picking up his second yellow of the night with a foul on Anwar El Ghazi, the home side came storming back against the 10-man Hoops.

Substitute Lasse Schone made it 2-2 with a free-kick in the 84th minute, with the Scottish champions hanging on through four added minutes for a point.

Asked if he thought Celtic would have won with 11 men, the Norwegian said: "Yes, I am sure we would have done that because they didn’t create anything. We were very comfortable and sat in and we could have made changes in the end to be even better in defence.

"When we had 11 against 11 we had very good control of the game.

"There are so many things in the game and that happens with everybody. Emilio has no record of having a lot of red cards.

"I personally think he played very well up until he got the red card. He took out maybe their best player the whole game.

"We created chances and defended as a team and I am very proud of the boys.

"But when we got down to 10 men we had more difficulties, more crosses into our box but over the whole game a draw is okay and it is a very important point, it is always difficult to get points away."

Asked if he was tempted to substitute Izaguirre before what looked like an inevitable red card was shown, Deila, under some pressure after losing the top spot in the Ladbrokes Premiership to Aberdeen with a 2-1 defeat by the Dons at Pittodrie on Saturday, said: "It was a very difficult decision to think if I had to take him off.

"I think he had very good control of El Ghazi in the first half. He didn't do anything.

"Also we had players with cramps and we had players who had not played so much and needed to change.

"I couldn't understand why he got the first yellow card but that happened and we can't do anything about it.

"For me, it's attitude, discipline, organisation and the boys showed me that they really wanted to fight.

"We got one point away in Amsterdam and that could be important at the end of the group.

"Everyone knows we are a good team and can play good football but today we needed performance and some confidence and if you can back that up with points it makes it easy.

"We got a point, it could have been three but we had a good performance and that gives us a lot of energy and confidence."

"We really want to beat Ajax at Celtic Park but everything is about performances and players, and they showed great attitude.

"The players showed that they can bounce back. We got a point and now it is to get ready for Sunday and start winning games in the league as well."

Brendan Rodgers praises Liverpool youngsters after Bordeaux draw

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was both disappointed and encouraged by his side's 1-1 Europa League draw in Bordeaux.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was both disappointed and encouraged by his side's 1-1 Europa League draw in Bordeaux.
Adam Lallana's second-half goal was cancelled out by substitute Jussie late on to deny the Reds an opening win.
However, with Rodgers making eight changes it was the young players who impressed - the first-half introduction of debutant Pedro Chirivella brought the average age down to 21.7 - and the manager was full of praise.
"I am disappointed but I feel encouraged by the performance with so many young players," he said.
"I was disappointed their striker got too many touches in the box but if you can't win, especially away from home in Europe, you at least get a point and we're satisfied with that.
"I was so proud of them tonight. I will always give the young players an opportunity if they have the personality.
"The senior players were outstanding helping the younger players and we will look for more of that in the coming weeks."
Chirivella and Jordan Rossiter, both 18, impressed in central midfield and Rodgers noted that.
He said: "As the game wore on they combined with the other players and I thought they acquitted themselves well.
"If you take those two, Jordon Ibe who is 19, Joe Gomez who is 18, there was great encouragement for the young players and supporters."
Lallana was returning from a month out with a thigh injury and despite some rustiness in the first half he took his goal brilliantly.
"It was an outstanding goal. It was his touch and creativity which we have not seen so much of this season.
"It was a wonderful goal and (substitute) Danny Ings was unfortunate not to score."
Rodgers added: " (Mamadou) Sakho was immense at the back. He knows he has had to be patient and his attitude has been first class.
"He has trained very well, kept professional, done his extra work on his fitness and he has got his rewards for that.
"He certainly comes into the reckoning for the weekend (against Norwich)."
Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol was happy with securing a draw.
"I am really proud of the team as we created a few opportunities," he said.
"But of course if you want to create opportunities throughout the game then you leave yourself open to counter-attacks and when you have players of the calibre of (Emre) Can, Lallana and (Philippe) Coutinho it makes it difficult.
"Our objective overall was to control the game and we managed to come back so this was a good performance."

Lacina Traore scores late equaliser to rescue 1-1 draw for Monaco at Anderlecht

Lacina Traore scored an 85th-minute equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw for Monaco away at Anderlecht in their Europa League Group J match.

In a largely even contest screened on BT Sport 2, Anderlecht, who led from the 11th minute after Guillaume Gillet's goal, had been close to victory until Traore capitalised on the Ligue 1 side's growing pressure.

Gillet had been recalled to Anderlecht's starting XI in a match that also represented Fabio Coentrao's first start since his arrival on loan from Real Madrid, and swiftly impressed with his reaction.

Volleying in from Dennis Praet's left-wing cross after escaping Elderson Echiejile, the midfielder's strong effort went straight through Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic.

Both teams wasted further chances before Coentrao, in the 34th minute, tested Silvio Proto with a swerving shot the goalkeeper managed to palm away.

The first half concluded with Monaco improving, inspired largely by Coentrao's threat on the left wing, after Anderlecht had impressed in the opening 25 minutes.

Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim reacted to the deficit by introducing the 6ft 8ins Traore at half-time, and when they still trailed after 65 minutes he moved Coentrao to left-back and brought on the attacking Stephan El Shaarawy for Elderson.

Traore had threatened, but in the 74th minute Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi subbed Frank Acheampong on for Matias Suarez in an attempt to close out the game and secure a vital victory and a clean sheet.

Instead, Monaco's pressure continued to build and -when El Shaarawy forced a save from Proto from close range - Traore capitalised to head in the equalising goal and earn his side a point.