Mattress Makers Settle For Scoreless Road Draw

 At Huesca, Spain:

The Wednesday Spanish Primera Division contest between Huesca and visiting Atletico Madrid concluded in a 0-0 stalemate.

Copa Libertadores

 Group-stage play in the Copa Libertadores continued on Wednesday with seven games.

GROUP A:

At Rio de Janeiro:

Bruno Henrique scored twice (51', 72') as Flamengo demolished visiting Indepeniente del Valle 4-0 in clinched a berth in the knockout stage.

At Barranquilla, Colombia:

Byron Castillo (45') and Jonathan Alvez (46') each scored once as Barcelona SC blanked Atletico Junior 2-0 on the road.

Group A Standings:

1.x-Flamengo (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 12)

2.   Independiente del Valle (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 9)

3.   Atletico Junior (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 6)

4. z-Barcelona SC (GP: 5; GD: -6; PTS: 3)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

z-Eliminated from Copa Libertadores contention but still alive for Copa Sudamericana second-stage berth

GROUP B:

At Sao Paulo, Brazil:

Willian opened the scoring in the fourth minute as five different players each scored once as Palmeiras clinched a knockout-stage berth after their 5-0 home destruction of Club Bolivar.

GROUP D:

At Avellaneda, Argentina:

Julian Alvarez scored twice (11', 37') as River Plate defeated visiting Sao Paulo 2-1 in locked up a berth in the knockout stage.

Group D Standings:

1. x-LDU Quito (GP: 5; GD: +7; PTS: 12)

2. x-River Plate (GP: 5; GD: +12; PTS: 10)

3. z-Sao Paulo FC (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 4)

4. z-Binacional (GP: 5; GD: -18; PTS: 3)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

z-Eliminated from Copa Libertadores contention but still alive for berth in Copa Sudamericana second stage

GROUP F:

At Montevideo, Uruguay:

Hector Fertoli converted a penalty kick in the 78th minute to carry Racing Club de Avellaneda to a 2-1 road win over Club Nacioal as both clubs advanced to the knockout stage.

At Lima, Peru:

Joazhino Arroe (3') and Patricio Rubio (90'+5) each scored once as Alianza Lima gained a 2-2 home draw with Estudiantes de Merida.

Jose Rivas converted a pair of penalty kicks for the Venezuelan club's tallies (35', 67').

Group F Standings:

1. x-Racing Club de Avellaneda (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 12)

2. x-Club Nacional (GP: 5; GD: +4; PTS: 12)

3. z-Estudiantes de Merida (GP: 5; GD: -3; PTS: 4)

4. z-Alianza Lima (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 1)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

z-Eliminated from Copa Libertadores contention but still alive for Copa Sudamericana second-stage berth

GROUP H:

At Caracas, Venezuela:

Leonardo Castro (58') and Jesus Murillo (66') each scored once as Independiente Medellin blanked Caracas FC 2-0 on the road.

Group H Standings:

1. x-Boca Juniors (GP: 5; GD: +6; PTS: 11)

2.    Caracas FC (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 7)

3.    Club Libertad (GP: 5; GD: -1; PTS: 7)

4. o-Independiente Medellin (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 3)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

o-Eliminated from South American competition

UEFA Champions League: Midtjylland, Salzburg, Krasnodar Advance To Group Stage

 The UEFA Champions League's playoff round concluded on Wednesday with three games.

CHAMPIONS PATH:

At Herning, Denmark:

Sory Kaba (65'), Alexander Scholz (PK-84'), Ogochukwu Onyeka (88'), and Anders Dreyer (90'+1) each scored once as FC Midtjylland scored four goals in the second half and overpowered visiting Slavia Prague 4-1 in game two and won their series with the Czech club by that same score on aggregate.

At Wals-Siezenheim, Austria:

Patson Daka scored twice (16', 68') as FC Red Bull Salzburg defeated visiting Maccabi Tel Aviv 3-1 in game two and ousted the Israeli club 5-2 on aggregate.

LEAGUE PATH:

At Thessaloniki, Greece:

Giannis Michailidis (OG-73') and Remy Cabella (78') each scored once as FC Krasnodar defeated PAOK FC 2-1 on the road in game two and won their series 4-2 on aggregate.

AFC Champions League: Al-Nassr, Persepolis Advance To Semifinals

 At Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar:

The West Zone portion of the AFC Champions League's quarterfinal round took place on Wednesday with two games.

Game #1:

Pity Martinez (late of Atlanta United) and Abdulfattah Asiri scored once in the 13th and 55th minutes, respectively as Al Nassr blanked Al Ahli 2-0 in a battle of Saudi clubs.

Game #2:

Persepolis blanked Pakhtakor Tashkent 2-0 with Issa Alekasir scoring both goals (49', 66') for the Iranian club.

Copa Libertadores: Boca Juniors, Athletico Paranaense, Gremio Clinch Knockout-Stage Berths

 Group-stage action in the Copa Libertadores resumed on Tuesday with six games.

GROUP C:

At Montevideo, Uruguay:

Gary Kagelmacher (23'), Facundo Torres (57'), and Jonathan Urretaviscaya (83') each scored once as Penarol dominated visiting Colo-Colo 3-0.

At Curitiba, Brazil:

Athletico Paranaense and visiting Jorge Wilstermann battled to a 0-0 stalemate which lifted the Brazilian club into the Round of 16.

Group C Standings:

1. x-Athletico Paranaense (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 10)

2.    Jorge Wilstermann (GP: 5; GD: +2; PTS: 7)

3.    Penarol (GP: 5; GD: 0; PTS: 6)

4.    Colo-Colo (GP: 5; GD: -5; PTS: 6)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

GROUP D:

At Quito, Ecuador:

Adolfo Munoz scored twice (59', 81') as LDU Quito demolished visiting Binacional 4-0 and clinched a berth in the knockout stage.

GROUP E:

At Porto Alegre, Brazil:

Pepe (47') and Antonio Rodrigues (63') each scored once as Gremio locked up a berth in the knockout stage after blanking visiting Universidad Catolica 2-0.

At Cali, Colombia:

America de Cali and guests Internacional played a match that resulted in a 0-0 deadlock.

Group E Standings:

1. x-Gremio (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 10)

2.    Internacional (GP: 5; GD: +3; PTS: 8)

3.    America de Cali (GP: 5; GD: -2; PTS: 5)

4. z-Universidad Catolica (GP: 5; GD: -4; PTS: 4)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

z-Eliminated from Copa Libertadores contention but still alive for Copa Sudamericana second-stage berth

GROUP H:

At Buenos Aires:

Boca Juniors locked up a berth in the knockout stage after battling visiting Club Libertad to a 0-0 draw.

UEFA Champions League Playoff Round: Olympiacos, Ferencvaros, Dynamo Kiev Advance To Group Stage

 The playoff round of the UEFA Champions League is set to resume on Tuesday with three games, all kicking off at 12:00 Noon Pacific Time and set to be streamed live on CBS All Access.

CHAMPIONS PATH:

At Nicosia, Cyprus:

A game-two 0-0 road stalemate with Omonia was good enough for Olympiacos as the Greek club won their series 2-0 on aggregate.

At Budapest, Hungary:

Despite being held 0-0 at home in game two by Norway's Molde FK, Ferencvaros won their series on away goals with the aggregate score at 3-3 to advance to the Champions League's group stage since 1995.

LEAGUE PATH:

At Kiev, Ukraine:

Vitaliy Buyalskyi (9'), Carlos De Pena (PK-36'), and Gerson Rodrigues (PK-49') each scored once as Dynamo Kiev dominated visiting KAA Gent 3-0 in game two and ousted the Belgian club 5-1 on aggregate.

Wolves Hammered In London

At London:

Jarrod Bowen scored twice (17', 57') on Sunday as West Ham United demolished visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-0 in an English Premier League contest.

MLS: Sunday Wins For Revs, Red Bulls, Fire, Philly, Reds, Timbers, Sounders, Quakes; Both Angelino Clubs Knocked Off At Home

Ten games were contested in Major League Soccer on Sunday. 

At Washington:

Gustavo Bou (86') and Adam Buska (90') provided the late scoring that propelled the New England Revolution to a 2-0 road victory over DC United.

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Tom Barlow scored twice (14', 35') as the New York Red Bulls dominated the visiting Montreal Impact 4-1.

At Chicago:

With goals from Fabian Herbers (7') and Robert Beric (39'), the Chicago Fire blanked visiting Atlanta United 2-0.

At Chester, Pennsylvania:

Anthony Fontana (GP: 25), Ilsinho (69'), and Brenden Aaronson (90'+7) each scored once as the Philadelphia Union dominated visiting Inter Miami 3-0.

At East Hartford, Connecticut:

Alejandro Pozuelo scored the game winner in the 59th minute as Toronto FC, playing a home match on American soil due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions, downed the visiting Columbus Crew 3-1.

At St. Paul, Minnesota:

Minnesota United and visiting Real Salt Lake battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Frisco, Texas:

FC Dallas and visiting Orlando City played out to a 0-0 deadlock.

At Portland, Oregon:

Felipe Mora's goal in the fifth minute stood up as the Portland Timbers defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 in a Vancouver home contest due to COVID-related travel and quarantine restrictions.

At Carson, California:

Cristian Roldan scored twice (12', 61') as the Seattle Sounders upended the Los Angeles Galaxy 3-1 on the road.

At Los Angeles:

Shea Salinas (80') and Jackson Yueill (90'+3) each scored once as the San Jose Earthquakes came from behind to stun the Los Angeles Football Club 2-1 on the road. 

MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   Columbus (GP: 14; GD: +15; PTS: 30)

2.   Philadelphia (GP: 14; GD: +13; PTS: 28)

3.   Toronto FC (GP: 14; GD: +9; PTS: 28)

4.   Orlando City SC (GP: 14; GD: +10; PTS: 26)

5.   New England (GP: 14; GD: +3; PTS: 21)

6.   New York City FC (GP: 14; GD: +4; GD: 20)

7.   New York Red Bulls (GP: 14; GD: +1; PTS: 20)

8.   Montreal (GP: 14; GD: -7; PTS: 16)

9.   Nashville SC (GP: 13; GD: -3; PTS: 16)

10. Chicago (GP: 14; GD: -4; PTS: 15)

11. Atlanta United FC (GP: 14; GD: -6; PTS: 14)

12. FC Cincinnati (GP: 14; GD: -13; PTS: 13)

13. Inter Miami (GP: 14; GD: -10; PTS: 11)

14. DC United (GP: 14; GD: -9; PTS: 11)

NOTES:  With Philadelphia and Toronto level on points (28) and wins (8), the Union have the superior goal differential (+13, compared to the Reds' +9); with the New York clubs level on points (20) and wins (6), New York City have the superior goal differential (+4, compared to the Red Bulls' +1); with Montreal and Nashville level on points with 16, the Impact have more wins (5-4); with Miami and DC United level on points with 11, the Herons have more wins (3) than DC (2).

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   Seattle (GP: 13; GD: +17; PTS: 24)

2.   Portland (GP: 14; GD: +3; PTS: 24)

3.   Kansas City (GP: 13; GD: +4; PTS: 20)

4.   FC Dallas (GP: 13; GD: +6; PTS: 20)

5.   Colorado (GP: 13; GD: +5; PTS: 19)

6.   Minnesota United FC (GP: 14; GD: +3; PTS: 19)

7.   Los Angeles Football Club (GP: 14; GD: +3; PTS: 18)

8.   Real Salt Lake (GP: 14; GD: -2; PTS: 18)

9.   Houston (GP: 14; GD: -3; PTS: 16)

10. Vancouver (GP: 14; GD: -14; PTS: 15)

11. Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 13; GD: -5; PTS: 15)

12. San Jose (GP: 14; GD: -20; PTS: 14)

NOTES:  With Seattle and Portland level on points (24) and wins (7), the Sounders have the superior goal differential (+17, compared to the Timbers' +3); with Sporting Kansas City and Dallas level on poinst with 20, SKC have more wins (6-5); with Colorado and Minnesota United level on points (19) and wins (5), the Rapids have the superior goal differential (+5, compared to the Loons' +3); with the Los Angeles Football Club and Real Salt Lake level on points with 18, LAFC have more wins (5-4); with Vancouver and the Los Angeles Galaxy level on points with 15, the Whitecaps have more wins (5-4).

Lions Grab Road Win

 At Pacos de Ferreira, Portugal:

Jovane Cabral (PK-23') and Sebastian Coates (63') each scored once on Sunday as Sporting CP registered a 2-0 Portuguese Liga road victory over Pacos de Ferreira.

Bhoys Pop Hibs At Home

 At Glasgow, Scotland:

Callum McGregor (7'), Albian Ajeti (35'), and Mohamed Elyounoussi (79') each scored once as Celtic dominated visiting Hibernian 3-0 in Sunday action from the Scottish Premiership.

Decisive Road Win For 'Gers

 At Motherwell, Scotland:

James Tavernier successfully converted a pair of penalty kicks in the 12th and 37th minutes on Sunday as Rangers destroyed Motherwell 5-1 on the road in Scottish Premiership action.

Bayern Embarrassed At Sinsheim

 At Sinsheim, Germany:

Andrej Kramaric scored twice (77', PK-90'+2) as TSG Hoffenheim shocked visiting Bayern Munich 4-1 in Sunday German Bundesliga action.

Mattress Makers Crush Grenada To Open La Liga Season In Style

 At Madrid:

Luis Suarez scored twice (85', 90'+3) to cap off the scoring in his Atletico Madrid debut on Sunday as the Mattress Makers destroyed visiting Grenada 6-1 in their Spanish Primera Division season opener.

Two Wins In As Many Games To Start Serie A Campaign For Rossoneri

 At Crotone, Italy:

Franck Kessie (PK-45'+2) and Brahim Dian (50') each scored once on Sunday as AC Milan defeated Crotone 2-0 in Italian Serie A action.

Wissam Ben Yedder's Brace Propels Monaco Past Strasbourg

 At Fontvieille, Monaco:

Wissam Ben Yedder's double (9', 53') enabled AS Monaco to hold off visiting Strasbourg 3-2 in an entertaining Sunday French Ligue 1 contest.

AFC Champions League: Persepolis Advance To Quarterfinals

 The West Zone portion of the AFC Champions League's Round of 16 concluded on Sunday with two games contested at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

Game #1:

Issa Alekasir scored the game's lone goal in the 88th minute as Iran's Persepolis defeated Qatar's Al-Sadd 1-0.

Game #2:

Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) vs. Al-Taawoun (Saudi Arabia)

MLS: Nashville and Dynamo Draw In Music City; CityZens Dismantle Cincy In Jersey

 Two games were contested on Saturday in Major League Soccer.

At Nashville, Tennessee:

Maynor Figueroa's equalizer in the 89th minute lifted the Houston Dynamo to a 1-1 road draw with Nashville SC.

Daniel Rios scored for the hosts in the 49th minute.

At Harrison, New Jersey:

Alexandru Mitrita scored twice (1', 43') as New York City demolished visiting FC Cincinnati 4-0.

Ajax Pulls Off Home Win

 At Amsterdam, Netherlands:

In Saturday Dutch Eredivisie action, Antony Matheus dos Santos scored the game winner in the 70th minute as Ajax Amsterdam defeated visiting Vitesse Arnhem 2-1.

Road Win For Red Bulls

 At Ried im Innkreis, Austria:

Mergim Berisha scored twice (45'+1, 53') to help carry FC Red Bull Salzburg to a 3-1 Saturday Austrian Bundesliga road victory over SV Ried. 

AFC Champions League: Al-Ahli, Pakhtakor Advance To Quarterfinals

 At Al Wakrah, Qatar:

The knockout stage (West Zone only) of the AFC Champions League opened on Saturday with two games contested at Al Janoub Stadium.

In the opener, following a 1-1 regulation draw that was followed by 30 minutes of scoreless overtime, Hussein Abdulghani, Lucas Lima, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, and Motaz Al Somah converted their spot kicks as Al-Ahli (Saudi Arabia) took the penalty-kick shootout, 4-3 over the UAE's Shabab Al-Ahli.

Game #2:

Sardor Sabirkhodjaev scored the winning goal in the 47th minute as Pakhtakor Tashkent from Uzbekistan came from behind to defeat Irna's Esteghlal 2-1.

Copa Libertadores

 Group-stage action in the Copa Libertadores continued on Thursday.

GROUP C:

At Cochabamba, Bolivia:

Pato Rodriguez scored twice (45', 53') as Jorge Wilstermann defeated visiting Penarol 2-1.

Group C Standings:

1. Athletico Paranaense (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 9)

2. Jorge Wilstermann (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 6)

3. Colo-Colo (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 6)

4. Penarol (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

GROUP G:

At Manta, Ecuador:

Jean Mota scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute as Santos defeated Delfin 2-1 on the road.

Group G Standings:

1. Santos (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 10)

2. Defensa y Justica (GP: 4; GD: +2; PTS: 6)

3. Club Olimpia (GP: 4; GD: 0; PTS: 5)

4. Delfin (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 1)

GROUP H:

At Medellin, Colombia:

Eduardo Salvio scored the lone goal of Boca Juniors' 1-0 road win over Independiente Medellin in the 88th minute.

Group H Standings:

1.   Boca Juniors (GP: 4 GD: +6; PTS: 10)

2.   Caracas FC (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 7)

3.   Club Libertad (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 6)

4. z-Independiente Medellin (GP: 4; GD: -6; PTS: 0)

z-Eliminated from Copa Libertadores contention by still alive for Copa Sudamericana second-stage berth

    

Europa League Qualifying: Rosonerri, Sporting CP, Bhoys, 'Gers, Copenhagen, Sarajevo, FC Flora, Trond Kids, Spurs, Maccabi Haifa, Legia Warsaw, PSV advance to playoff round

The third round of Europa League qualifying concluded on Thursday with 34 games. 

Champions Path:

At Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina:

Matthias Fanimo scored the game winner in the 67th minute as FC Sarajevo defeated visiting Buducnost Podgorica 2-1.

At Tiraspol, Moldova:

After a 1-1 regulation draw which was followed by 30 scoreless overtime minutes, Stefan Colovic, Patrick Hoban, Sean Hoare, Patrick McEleney, and Chris Shields converted their spot kicks as visiting Dundalk won the penalty-kick shootout, 5-3 over FC Sheriff.

At Yerevan, Armenia:

After 90 minutes of scoreless regulation, Serhiy Vakulenko scored the game winner at 111 minutes as Ararat-Armenia defeated visiting Celje 1-0 in overtime.

At Riga, Latvia:

Mohamed Elyounoussi came through for Celtic in the 90th minute as his goal lifted the Bhoys to a 1-0 road victory over Riga.

At Kuopio, Finland:

Lucas Rangel (31') and Igors Tarasovs (72') each scored once as KuPS blanked visiting FK Suduva Marijampole 2-0.

At Warsaw, Poland:

Pawel Wszolek (24') and Tomas Pekhart (43') each scored once as Legia Warsaw blanked visiting Drita 2-0.

At Torshavn, Faroe Islands:

Pall Klettskard produced a second-half hat trick (60', 69', 73') while John Johannesen added a second-half double (58', 85') as KI destroyed visiting Dinamo Tbilisi 6-1.

At Stockholm, Sweden:

Paulo Vinicius scored the only goal of the match in the 55th minute as CFR Cluj defeated Djurgarden 1-0 on the road.

At Ta' Qali, Malta:

After 120 scoreless minutes, Michael Lilander, Vladislav Kreida, Marten Kuusk, and Frank Liivak converted their spot kicks as FC Flora Tallinn  took the penalty-kick shootout, 4-2 on the road at Floriana's expense.

Main Path:

At Murska Sobota, Slovenia:

Donyell Malen (17', 65') and Cody Gakpo (54', 90') each scored twice as PSV Eindhoven demolished Mura 5-1 on the road.

At Malmo, Sweden:

Issac Kiese Thelin scored twice (5', 17') as Malmo destroyed visiting Lokomotiva Zagreb 5-0.

At Lisbon:

Tiago Barreiros de Melo Tomas' goal in the eighth minute carried Sporting CP to a 1-0 home victory over Aberdeen.

At Charleroi, Belgium:

Kaveh Rezaei scored the overtime game winner in the 108th minute as Charleroi defeated visiting Partizan Belgrade 2-1.

At Trondheim, Norway:

Anders Konradsen scored the game's lone goal in the 59th minute as Rosenborg defeated visiting Alanyspor 1-0.

At Wolfsburg, Germany:

Daniel Ginczek scored the winning goal in the second minute of second-half stoppage time as VfL Wolfsburg upended visiting Densa Chernihiv 2-1.

At Szekesfehervar, Hungary:

After 120 of scoreless soccer, Evandro da Silva, Stopira, Armin Hodzic, and Loic Nego converted their spot kicks as Fehervar took the measure of visiting Stade de Reims 4-1 in the penalty-kick shootout.

At Grenada, Spain:

Darwin Machis (48') and Jorge Molina (90'+1) each scored once as Grenada blanked visiting Locomotive Tbilisi 2-0.

At Rijeka, Croatia:

After a scoreless regulation, Joao Escoval (102') and Franko Andrijasevic (115') came through in overtime for Rijeka as the hosts shut out visiting Kolos Kovalivka 2-0.

At Linz, Austria:

Marko Raguz got the scoring started with his double (6', 17') as LASK annihilated visiting DAC Dunajska Streda 7-0.

At Milan, Italy:

Hakan Calhanoglu scored twice (16', 50') as AC Milan held off visiting Bodo/Glimt 3-2.

At Skopje, North Macedonia:

Son Heung-min scored the game winner in the 70th minute as Tottenham Hotspur defeated Shkendija 3-1 on the road. 

At Liege, Belgium:

Selim Amallah scored the game winner in the 91st minute as Standard Liege held off visiting Vojvodina 2-1 in overtime.

At Rostov-on-Don, Russia:

Mohammad Abu Fani scored the winning goal in the 60th minute as Maccabi Haifa defeated Rostov 2-1 on the road.

At Tilburg, Netherlands:

Filip Helander scored twice (55', 71') as Rangers demolished Willem II Tilburg 4-0 on the road.

At St. Gallen, Switzerland:

Nelson Oliveira scored the only goal of the match in the 78th minute as AEK Athens knocked off ten-man St. Gallen 1-0 on the road.

At Istanbul, Turkey:

After a 1-1 regulation draw, followed by 30 minutes of goal-free overtime, Bruno Moreira , Aberlan Leandro de Jesus Santos, Nikola Jambor, and Matheus Reis converted their spot kicks as visiting Rio Ave knocked off Besiktas 4-2 in the penalty-kick shootout.

At Giurgiu, Romania:

Abdullah Yusuf Helal (64') and Michael Rabusic (82') each scored once as Slovan Liberec blanked Steaua Bucharest 2-0 on the road.

At Petah Tikva, Israel:

Miguel Vitor (43'), Josue (PK-71'), and Elton-Ofoi Acolaste (82') each scored once as Hapoel Be'er Sheva dominated visiting Motherwell 3-0.

At Copenhagen, Denmark:

Kamil Wilczek (14'), Jonas Wind (58'), and Pep Biel (90'+3) each scored once as FC Copenhagen dominated visiting Piast Gliwice 3-0.

At Basel, Switzerland:

Hovhannes Hambardzumyan's own goal in the 21st minute proved decisive as FC Basel raced out to a three-goal lead, then held on for a 3-2 home victory over Anorthosis Famagusta.

At Istanbul, Turkey:

Younes Belhanda (77') and Ryan Babel (86') each scored once as Galatasaray blanked visiting Hajduk Split 2-0.

At Plzen, Czech Republic:

Zdenek Ondrasek (PK-35'), Adriel Ba Loua (41'), and Miroslav Kacer (51') delivered a goal apiece as FC Viktoria Plzen dominated visiting SonderjyskE 3-0.

At Nicosia, Cyprus:

After a 2-2 regulation draw, following by a half-hour of scoreless overtime, Mike Jensen, Ben Sahar, Musa Al-Taamari, and Tomas De Vincenti knocked in their spot kicks as APOEL FC won the penalty-kick shootout, 4-2 at home over Zrinjski Mostar.

At Sofia, Bulgaria:

Georgi Yomov scored the winning goal in the 38th minute as CSKA Sofia held off visiting B36 Torshavn 3-1.

  

Bayern Take Overtime Thriller With Sevilla To Cop UEFA Super Cut

 At Budapest, Hungary:

Javi Martinez scored the overtime game winner in the 104th minute on Thursday as UEFA Champions League winners Bayern Munich held off Europa League titlists Sevilla 2-1 to win the UEFA Super Cup.

AFC Champions League

 West Zone group-stage play in the AFC Champions League continued in Qatar on Thursday with four games.

GROUP C:

At Education City, Doha:

Mitchell Duke scored the only goal of the match in the 86th minute as Al-Taawoun snuck away with a knockout-stage berth by knocking off Al-Duhail 1-0 and knocking the Qatari club out of the tournament.

At Jassim bin Hadad Stadium, Doha:

Shoja' Khalilzadeh (2'), Issa Alekasir (41'), Vahid Amiri (44'), and Mahdi Abdi (90'+1) each scored once as Persepolis locked up top spot in Group C after demolishing Sharjah 4-0.

Final Group C Standings:

1. Persepolis (GP: 6; GD: +3; PTS: 10)

2. Al-Taawoun (GP: 6; GD: -4; PTS: 9)

3. Al-Duhail (GP: 6; GD: -1; PTS: 9)

4. Sharjah (GP: 6; GD: +2; PTS: 7)

Persepolis and Al-Taawoun (who won both games against Al-Duahil) advanced to the knockout stage.

GROUP D:

At Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha:

Sajjad Shahbazzadeh scored the winning goal in the 55th minute as Sepahan defeated Al-Sadd 2-1.

At Education City Stadium, Doha:

Kodjo Laba's goal in the 19th minute lifted Al-Ain to a 1-0 victory over Al-Nassr.

Final Group D Standings:

1. Al-Nassr (GP: 6; GD: +4; PTS: 11)

2. Al-Sadd (GP: 6; GD: +6; PTS: 9)

3. Sepahan (GP: 6; GD: -2; PTS: 7)

4. Al-Ain (GP: 6; GD: -8; PTS: 5)

Al-Nassr and Al-Sadd advanced to the knockout stage.

MLS: Wednesday Wins For Revs, Five Stripes, Reds, Fire, Lions, Red Bulls, Nashville, Rapids, RSL, Timbers, LAFC

 13 games were contested in Major League Soccer on Wednesday.

At Foxborough, Massachusetts:

Henry Kessler (45'+2), Gustavo Bou (49'), and Diego Fagundez (65') each scored once as the New England Revolution held off the visiting Montreal Impact 3-1.

At Atlanta:

Jeff Larentowicz goal on a successful penalty kick lifted Atlanta United to a 1-0 home victory over FC Dallas, snapping the Five Stripes' six-game winless streak.

At Harrison, New Jersey:

A successful penalty kick by Alejandro Pozuelo in the 90th minute carried Toronto FC to a 1-0 road win over New York City, ending the CityZens' six-game unbeaten streak.

At Chicago:

Robert Beric (15'), Fabian Herbers (23'), Alvaro Medran (40'), and C.J. Sapong (89') each scored once as the Chicago Fire scorched the visiting Houston Dynamo 4-0.

At Cincinnati, Ohio:

FC Cincinnati and the visiting Philadelphia Union battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

At Columbus, Ohio:

Pedro Santos scored the winning goal in the 70th minute as the Columbus Crew held off visiting Minnesota United 2-1.

At Kansas City, Kansas:

Tesho Akindele (36') and Benji Michel (38') each scored once within a two-minute stretch in the first half as Orlando City knocked off Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on the road.

At Fort Lauderdale, Florida:

Mandela Egbo (PK-14'), Brian White (49'), Ben Mines (85'), and Daniel Royer (90'+1) each scored once as the New York Red Bulls dominated Inter Miami 4-1 on the road.

At Nashville, Tennessee:

Daniel Rios' goal in the 70th minute lifted Nashville SC to a 1-0 home victory over DC United.

At Commerce City, Colorado:

Five different players, starting with Cole Bassett in the 36th minute, each scored once as the Colorado Rapids destroyed the visiting San Jose Earthquakes 5-0.

At Sandy, Utah:

Albert Rusnak (PK-65') and Damir Kreilach (72') each scored once as Real Salt Lake blanked the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy 2-0.

At Portland, Oregon:

Yimmi Chara scored the lone goal of the match in the 13th minute as the Portland Timbers defeated the visiting Seattle Sounders 1-0.

At Los Angeles:

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored twice (6', 11') as the Los Angeles Football Club scored four times in the first quarter-hour en route to a 6-0 home frontier-styled fist beating of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

MLS STANDINGS:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   Columbus (GP: 13; GD: +17; PTS: 30)

2.   Orlando City SC (GP: 13; GD: +10; PTS 25)

3.   Philadelphia (GP: 13; GD: +10; PTS: 25)

4.   Toronto FC (GP: 13; GD: +7; PTS: 25)

5.   New England (GP: 13; GD: +1; PTS: 18)

6.   New York City FC (GP: 13; GD: 0; PTS: 17)

7.   New York Red Bulls (GP: 13; GD: -2; 17)

8.   Montreal (GP: 13; GD: -4; PTS: 16)

9.   Nashville SC (GP: 12; GD: -3; PTS: 15)

10. Atlanta United FC (GP: 13; GD: -4; PTS: 14)

11. FC Cincinnati (GP: 13; GD: -9; PTS: 13)

12. Chicago (GP: 13; GD: -6; PTS; 12)

13. Inter Miami (GP: 13; GD: -7; PTS; 11)

14. DC United (GP: 13; GD: -7; PTS: 11)

NOTES:  With Orlando City, Philadelphia, and Toronto all level on points (25) and wins (7), the Lions and Union both have a goal differential of +10, compared to the Reds' +7; Orlando City have scored more goals than Philadelphia (25-21); with the New York clubs level on points (17) and wins (5), New York City have the superior goal differential (0, compared to the New York Red Bulls' -2); with Miami and DC level on points with 11, the Herons have won more games than DC (3-2).

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1.   Seattle (GP: 12; GD: +15; PTS: 21)

2.   Portland (GP: 13; GD: +2; PTS: 21)

3.   Kansas City (GP: 13; GD: +4; PTS: 20)

4.   FC Dallas (GP: 12; GD: +6; PTS: 19)

5.   Colorado (GP: 13; GD: +5; PTS: 19)

6.   Los Angeles Football Club (GP: 13; GD: +4; PTS: 18)

7.   Minnesota United FC (GP: 13; GD: +3; PTS: 18)

8.   Real Salt Lake (GP: 13; GD: -2; PTS: 17)

9.   Vancouver (GP: 13; GD: -13; PTS: 15)

10. Los Angeles Galaxy (GP: 12; GD: -3; PTS: 15)

11. Houston (GP: 13; GD: -3; PTS: 15)

12. San Jose (GP: 13; GD: -21; PTS: 11)

NOTES:  With Seattle and Portland level on points (21) and wins (6), the Sounders have the superior goal differential (+15, compared to the Timbers' +2); with Dallas and Colorado level on points (19) and wins (5), the Hoops have the superior goal differential (+6, compared to the Rapids' +5); with the Los Angeles Football Club and Minnesota United level on points (18) and wins (5), LAFC have the superior goal differential (+4, compared to the Loons' +3); with Vancouver, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and Houston level on points with 15, the Whitecaps have more wins (5) than the Galaxy (4) and Dynamo (3)

Copa Libertadores

 Group-stage play in the Copa Libertadores continued on Wednesday with seven games.

GROUP B:

At Asuncion, Paraguay:

Club Guarani and visiting Palmeiras (Brazil) battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

Group B Standings:

1. Palmeiras (GP: 4; GD: +5; PTS: 10)

2. Club Guarani (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)

3. Club Bolivar (GP: 4; GD: -1; PTS: 4)

4. Tigre (GP: 4; GD: -7; PTS: 1)

GROUP C:

At Curitiba, Brazil:

Own goals from  Felipe Campos (7') and Gabriel Suazo (14') in the first quarter-hour carried Athletico Paranaense to a 2-0 home victory over Colo-Colo.

GROUP E:

At Cali, Colombia:

Fernando Zampedri's equalizer in the 34th minute lifted Universidad Catolica to a 1-1 road draw with America de Cali.

Duvan Vergana scored for the hosts in the fourth minute.

At Porto Alegre, Brazil:

Pepe scored the game's lone goal in the 74th minute as Gremio defeated crosstown rivals Internacional 1-0 on the road.

Group E Standings:

1. Internacional (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 7)

2. Gremio (GP: 4; GD: +1; PTS: 7)

3. America de Cali (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 4)

4. Universidad Catolica (GP: 4; GD: -2; PTS: 4)

GROUP F:

At Lima, Peru:

Tiago Banega (87') and Benjamin Garre (90') delivered the goals in the final minutes as Racing Club de Avellaneda blanked Alianza Lima 2-0 on the road.

Group F Standings:

1. x-Club Nacional (GP: 4; GD: +5; PTS: 12)

2.    Racing Club de Avellaneda (GP: 4; GD: +3; PTS: 9)

3.    Estudiantes de Merida (GP: 4; GD: -3; PTS: 3)

4. z-Alianza Lima (GP: 4; GD: -5; PTS: 0)

x-Clinched berth in Copa Libertadores knockout stage

z-Eliminated from Copa Libertadores but still alive for berth in Copa Sudamerica's second stage

GROUP G:

At Florencio Varela, Argentina:

Braian Romero scored the winning goal in the 62nd minute as Defensa y Justica defeated visiting Club Olimpia 2-1.

GROUP H:

At Caracas, Venezuela:

Saul Guarirapa scored the winning goal in the 87th minute as Caracas FC defeated visiting Club Libertad 2-1.