Young Boys eliminated despite Anji success

Substitute Alexander González rounded off the scoring as BSC Young Boys overcame FC Anji Makhachkala, a win which was not enough for the Swiss side to progress from UEFA Europa League Group A.

Gonzalo Zárate's opener was cancelled out by Odil Ahmedov's measured finish, only for Moreno Costanzo to restore YB's advantage seven minutes after the restart. González, on the counterattack late on, sealed a victory which was ultimately in vain: Liverpool FC's triumph against Udinese Calcio meant the Premier League outfit joined Anji in advancing from a section in which the top three finished on ten points.

Young Boys were thankful to Marco Wölfli in the early stages, the goalkeeper pushing aside an effort from Lacina Traoré and then denying Samuel Eto'o after an under-hit back pass from Alain Nef. Having survived those scares, Martin Rueda's team took the lead on 38 minutes when Zárate struck a powerful shot against a post and, following a goalmouth scramble, drilled beyond Vladimir Gabulov from a tight angle.

Imbued with the confidence of an eight-game unbeaten run, Anji equalised courtesy of some slick play in the final third. Following a move involving Oleg Shatov and Eto'o, Traoré's back heel on the edge of the penalty area was seized upon by Ahmedov, who slid a shot beyond Wölfli from 12 metres.

Costanzo created and completed the Berne outfit's third, a perfectly judged tackle on the halfway line proving the launchpad for an attack that he would finish with a powerful half-volley. Anji played the last 20 minutes with ten men after the dismissal of Traoré for a second bookable offence, and as they chased a leveller that would have clinched pole position in the section, Guus Hiddink's men were opened up on the break as González put the result beyond doubt with a powerful drive.