Soccer

Olivier Giroud hits late winner for Arsenal in Belgrade

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates his winning goal in Belgrade
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates his winning goal in Belgrade Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates his winning goal in Belgrade

Olivier Giroud struck a late winner against Red Star Belgrade to preserve Arsenal's unblemished start to their Europa League Group H campaign.

Giroud pounced with a brilliant overhead kick in the 87th minute after Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott combined to set up the chance in Belgrade.

Aleksei Rios scored as BATE Borisov beat Cologne 1-0 in the other game in the group.

Mario Balotelli gave Nice an early lead but it was not enough to prevent Lazio from emerging convincing 3-1 winners at the Stade de Nice in Group K.

Felipe Caicedo equalised almost immediately before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was on target twice to clinch victory and keep Lazio at the summit of the table ahead of their rivals from France. Zulte-Waregem and Vitesse Arnhem drew 1-1.

Inaki Williams stepped off the bench to secure Athletic Bilbao a 2-2 draw with Ostersund at the Jamtkraft Arena, the Spanish club's first point of their Group J program. Ostersund, under English coach Graham Potter, remain top despite the deadlock.

Ukraine's Zorya Luhansk overcame Hertha Berlin 2-1 in Lviv.

Real Sociedad inflicted a record 6-0 home defeat on Macedonia's Vardar with Willian Jose notching four successive goals in Skopje.

Zenit St Petersburg remain at the top of Group L, however, after Emiliano Rigoni scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory over Rosenborg.

Lucas Ocampos and Maxime Lopez were on target as Marseille got their Group I campaign back on track with a 2-1 victory over Vitoria at the Stade Velodrome

Salzburg's 2-0 win against Konyaspor in Konya keeps them top of the pool and stretched their unbeaten Europa League run to seven games.

Steaua Bucharest continue to control Group G after dispatching Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2-1 at the Turner Stadium through two goals from substitute Harlem Gnohere, Lugano staying in second place after edging Viktoria Plzen 3-2.

Patrick Twumasi and Junior Kabananga struck two goals each to help Astana to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv at the Astana Arena in Group A.