Davie Selke bags brace in Hertha win

All three German teams kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League alive on Thursday evening. In the earlier kick-off, 1899 TSG Hoffenheim let a 1-0 lead slip in injury time to take a 1-1 draw home from Istanbul, while 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC both claimed vital home wins. European U21s champion Davie Selke scored a brace for the Berlin side.

Selke brace seals first win for Hertha

Davie Selke scored a goal in each half, as Hertha BSC claimed their first win of the season in the UEFA Europa League against Zorya at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The Germany U21s international, who now has three goals in two appearances in the competition this season, headed his side in front after 17 minutes, before rounding the keeper to make it 2-0 with less 20 minutes to play.

With four points, Pal Dardai’s club remain bottom of Group J, but qualification is still very much in their hands with a trip to Bilbao (5 points) still to come, before group leaders Östersunds (7) visit Berlin on the final matchday.

Köln fight back in 5-2 victory

Bundesliga strugglers 1. FC Köln took the lead early on against BATE through Simon Zoller, before a quickfire double from Nemanja Milunovic and Nikolai Signevich put the visitors 2-1 up at the break. But a stunning second-half performance saw the Billy Goats turn things around to win 5-2 thanks to goals from Sehrou Guirassy and substitutes Yuya Osako (2) and Milos Jojic.

Like Hertha, Köln also find themselves bottom of their group on 3 points, with second place Red Star Belgrade (5) and Arsenal (10) still to play on the final two matchdays.

Late goal denies TSG win

Julian Nagelsmann’s side started well against Istanbul Basaksehir, controlling the game and defending compactly. Austria international Florian Grillitsch scored the opener for ‘Hoffe’ early on in the second half, but his side were unable to make chances count and increase their lead.

Despite their defensive efforts, a fine strike from Edin Visca deep into stoppage time rescued a deserved point for the hosts. The result leaves Hoffenheim third in Group C (4 points) with Ludogrets (8) and Braga (7) left to play.

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All three German teams kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Europa League alive on Thursday evening. In the earlier kick-off, 1899 TSG Hoffenheim let a 1-0 lead slip in injury time to take a 1-1 draw home from Istanbul, while 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC both claimed vital home wins. European U21s champion Davie Selke scored a brace for the Berlin side.

Selke brace seals first win for Hertha

Davie Selke scored a goal in each half, as Hertha BSC claimed their first win of the season in the UEFA Europa League against Zorya at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The Germany U21s international, who now has three goals in two appearances in the competition this season, headed his side in front after 17 minutes, before rounding the keeper to make it 2-0 with less 20 minutes to play.

With four points, Pal Dardai’s club remain bottom of Group J, but qualification is still very much in their hands with a trip to Bilbao (5 points) still to come, before group leaders Östersunds (7) visit Berlin on the final matchday.

Köln fight back in 5-2 victory

Bundesliga strugglers 1. FC Köln took the lead early on against BATE through Simon Zoller, before a quickfire double from Nemanja Milunovic and Nikolai Signevich put the visitors 2-1 up at the break. But a stunning second-half performance saw the Billy Goats turn things around to win 5-2 thanks to goals from Sehrou Guirassy and substitutes Yuya Osako (2) and Milos Jojic.

Like Hertha, Köln also find themselves bottom of their group on 3 points, with second place Red Star Belgrade (5) and Arsenal (10) still to play on the final two matchdays.

Late goal denies TSG win

Julian Nagelsmann’s side started well against Istanbul Basaksehir, controlling the game and defending compactly. Austria international Florian Grillitsch scored the opener for ‘Hoffe’ early on in the second half, but his side were unable to make chances count and increase their lead.

Despite their defensive efforts, a fine strike from Edin Visca deep into stoppage time rescued a deserved point for the hosts. The result leaves Hoffenheim third in Group C (4 points) with Ludogrets (8) and Braga (7) left to play.