Soccer-Shakhtar, Copenhagen reach Europa League last eight

Two goals from towering forward Jonas Wind and another by winger Rasmus Falk gave Copenhagen victory against Istanbul and set up a likely clash with Manchester United in the final eight, to be played from Aug 10-21 in four German cities.

Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Copenhagen became the first two teams to reach the Europa League quarter-finals as the continent's second-tier competition resumed on Wednesday after a five-month break forced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Shakhtar thumped German side VfL Wolfsburg 5-1 on aggregate after a 3-0 win in the return leg in Kiev while Copenhagen beat Turkish champions Istanbul Basakshehir 3-0 at home to wipe out a 1-0 first-leg deficit.

In the day's later, Manchester United are at home to Austrians LASK Linz after beating them 5-0 in March while Inter Milan entertain Spanish side Getafe in a one-off encounter after the first leg was scrapped due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Shakhtar missed a hatful of first-half chances against Wolfsburg, with both sides reduced to 10 men in the second half after visiting goalkeeper Koen Casteels had pulled off a string of superb saves at the Olympic stadium.

The home side had defender Davit Klocholava sent off in the 66th minute for a professional foul, although the resulting penalty decision was overturned after a VAR review showed he tripped Joao Victor outside the area. Wolfsburg defender John Anthony Brooks followed in his footsteps only four minutes later for a second bookable foul and Shakhtar then sealed their passage with three quickfire goals in the dying minutes.

Junior Moraes broke the deadlock in the 89th minute when he turned in a Dodo cross and netted the third in stoppage time moments after substitute Manor Solomon made it 2-0 with a clinical finish. Two goals from towering forward Jonas Wind and another by winger Rasmus Falk gave Copenhagen victory against Istanbul and set up a likely clash with Manchester United in the final eight, to be played from Aug 10-21 in four German cities.

Wind-powered and unstoppable fourth-minute header past goalkeeper Mert Gunok thanks to an inch-perfect cross by right-back Guillermo Varela and then converted a 53rd-minute penalty after Mehmet Topal handled the ball in the area. Falk put the icing on the cake for Copenhagen with a superb individual effort in the 62nd, beating Gunok with a fine shot from the edge of the penalty area after a darting run through the middle.

The last eight, to be played in Cologne, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen and Duesseldorf, will feature one-leg matches with the final set for Aug. 21 in Cologne. 

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)