Celta Vigo 1 - 1 Standard Liege: Celta Vigo and Standard Liege cannot be separated as Group G goes to the wire

Posted Friday, November 25, 2016 by PA

The battle to join Ajax in progressing from Group G of the Europa League will go to the final day as Celta Vigo and Standard Liege drew 1-1.

A win for either side would have sent them through in second place, but although Iaga Aspas scored early on for the hosts, Standard hit back through Kostas Laifis in the 81st minute.

Celta's goalscorer Aspas was then shown a second yellow card in stoppage time to leave his side with 10 men.

The first chance fell to Standard's Edmilson Junior but it was Celta Vigo's John Guidetti who left the frame of the goal shaking with a shot in the fifth minute.

That was a warning the Standard defence failed to heed and three minutes later they were behind as Aspas broke into the area before firing beyond Guillaime Hubert.

Celta only grew in confidence as Pione Sisto and Facundo Roncaglia tried their luck before Ishak Belfodil went close at the other end in the 21st minute.

Standard steadily grew back into the game as Orlando Sa and Edmilson tested the goalkeeper, and with eight minutes of the first half left Sa was unlucky to see his header come back off a post.

There was a slow start to the second half, but the best of the chances fell Standard's way as Belfodil and captain Adrien Trebel were denied.

The visitors continued to push for an equaliser, with Blanco forced into saves by substitute Isaac Mbenza and Sa.

The reward finally came with nine minutes left as Laifis met Collins Fai's cross from the right with a diving header that beat the goalkeeper.

Neither side could find a winner and in the fourth minute of six added on Aspas was shown a second yellow card and the goalscorer was forced into an early exit.

The stalemate means the two teams must wait for the final matchday to see who progresses, with Celta away to winless Panathinaikos and Standard at home to an Ajax team who are already assured of top spot.