lokeren out despite ending legia streak published: thursday 27 november 2014, 20.56cet ksc lokeren ov 1-0 legia warszawa hans vanaken's goal ended the polish champions' perfect group l record but events elsewhere ensured the hosts are nevertheless eliminated.
• second group l success not enough to prevent lokeren's exit • defeat ends legia's perfect record in section • hans vanaken scores only goal of game in seventh minute • trabzonspor's win over metalist means belgian side cannot secure second • next games: metalist v lokeren, legia v trabzonspor (11 december)
ksc lokeren ov ended legia warszawa's perfect record in group l but trabzonspor aş's win elsewhere means the belgian team will not extend their uefa europa league campaign into the knockout stage.
with a 100% record coming into the game, legia were expected to be in command and that played out in the opening moments as orlando sá failed to connect cleanly with a chance while Łukasz broź blazed off target. the early barrage was repelled by the hosts who went ahead with their first thrust upfield. hans vanaken sprayed the ball out left to junior dutra before sprinting into the area to finish the return ball, smashing into the roof of the net.
ıt could have been more for lokeren as nill de pauw shot wide from the edge of the box before visiting keeper dušan kuciak denied a powerful ayanda patosi drive and dutra missed the ball with a wild swing of the leg when well placed outside the area. on fine form themselves, it was no surprise legia had their moments and broź's centre almost snuck in while tomasz jodłowiec was twice close with efforts from distances.
the opportunities continued to arrive after the restart as killian overmeire whistled a thunderous attempt off target before de pauw looped a header just over the legia goal. the polish champions almost found a leveller but jakub rzeźniczak nodded a corner just into the side netting. henning berg's men chased an equaliser but could not prevent their seven-match winning streak in the competition coming to a close. there were even glummer faces at the final whistle for lokeren after trabzonspor aş's win curtailed their prospects of progressing.
