Porto draw with Roma as Fenerbahce win in Europa League play-offs
PARIS: Porto and Roma drew 1-1 in the first leg of their Europa League knockout phase play-off Thursday, while Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce took a big step toward the last 16 with a 3-0 win over Anderlecht. Zeki Celic gave 2023 runners-up Roma the lead in first-half stoppage time in Portugal, but Porto defender Francisco Moura’s deflected strike ensured the teams will head to Italy next week with the tie finely poised. Roma played the final 18 minutes a man down after Bryan Cristante was sent off for two yellow cards, with coach Claudio Ranieri fuming at the final whistle. In Turkiye, Former Premier League duo Dusan Tadic and Edin Dzeko scored in the first half for Fenerbahce before Morocco international Youssef En-Nesyri headed in a third for Galatasaray to give them full control. Mourinho won the competition with Porto in 2003 and again with Manchester United in 2017, also reaching the final when he was in charge of Roma two years ago. “We played very well, but I can’t say ‘a good result’. We need to advance to the next round for this to be a good result,” said Mourinho. “Normally, of course, when you are leading 3-0, you are happy, but there is a second leg.
