UEFA Europa League: Olympiacos eliminate Osmanlispor

By Satuk Bugra Kutlugun

ANKARA (AA) - Olympiacos eliminated battling Europa League debutants Osmanlispor with 3-0 away win in Ankara on Thursday night.

Osmanlispor, who held the Greek domestic-league leaders goalless last Thursday, needed a victory on their home turf to advance to last 16 in Europe's second-biggest club tournament.

The match at Osmanli Stadium in the Turkish capital started with a dull tempo and the first half ended 0-0.

Olympiacos broke the deadlock on the 47th minute when Karim Ansarifard touched the ball in the six-yard box after a corner kick, giving his team a crucial 1-0 lead.

Having to score two goals to advance, Osmanlispor tried to be dangerous at the Olympiacos goal but failed to claw back an equalizer.

Osmanlispor's dreams were crushed on the 70th minute when Tarik Elyounoussi scored a header from Athanasios Androutsos' cross, making the score 2-0.

Ansarifard later completed a strike from Brazilian forward Seba's deflected shot to hammer the final nail in the coffin for Osmanlispor.

The Ankara side, although participating in the Europa League for only the first time, had led Group L to advance to Round 32.

Fellow Turkish side Fenerbahce were also eliminated from the tournament on Wednesday night as Russia's Krasnodar managed to draw 1-1 with the heavily-fancied Istanbul side to advance to Round 16 on a 2-1 aggregate.