UEFA Cup Betting: Toffees come unstuck in Belgium

Europa League / Maxliu / 02 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Everton crash out in Belgium but City, Spurs and Villa keep the flag flying.

Everton's European campaign came to an end on a frustrating night in Belgium despite being backed as low as [1.65] to qualify.

Standard Liege, whose Match Odds went as high as [6.0], beat the Toffees 2-1, a score-line which was backed at [26.0], and went through 4-3 on aggregate. Alex Witsel opened the scoring for the Belgians after 22 minutes - good news for those who backed him at [23.0] to be first goalscorer. Phil Jagielka equalised midway through the second-half only for Milan Jovanovic to settle the tie with a penalty 12 minutes later.

Over 2.5 Goals was matched at a high of [4.6] and Everton reached a low of [2.66] in the Match Odds market.

In an afternoon kick-off, Tottenham Hotspur were made to sweat on their way through to the group stages despite trading as low as [1.17] to win their match against Wisla Krakow.

Spurs took the lead early in the second-half through an own goal but a spirited Krakow hit back through an 83rd minute Pawel Brozek strike. The match ended 1-1, a scoreline backed at [9.6] in the Correct Score market, with Spurs winning the tie 3-2 on aggregate, having not risen above [1.4] to qualify. Over 1.5 goals was matched at a 3.5 high.

Spurs are now fifth favourites to win the 2008/09 UEFA Cup and can be backed at [18.0].

Manchester City look set for a serious crack at the UEFA Cup after not trading any higher than [1.46] on their way to a 2-1 win against Omonia at the Eastlands Stadium. Having won the first leg by the same score-line, City traded at a high of [1.19] to qualify and, despite a dogged second-half performance from the Cypriots, the blues' passage into the group stages of the competition was never in doubt. Elano and Shaun Wright Phillips were on target with Over 2.5 goals backed at a high of [4.1]. Mark Hughes' side are now [14.0] to lift the UEFA Cup next summer.

Despite being held to a draw, which traded at [10.0], against Litex Lovech, Aston Villa also progressed at a canter, reaching a high of only [1.35] to qualify. Marlon Harewood put Villa ahead in the first half and, after Litex equalised, Over 2.5 goals was backed at a [1.34] low. Villa are now [15.0] to win the UEFA Cup.

Steve McLaren's FC Twente prevailed on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate draw against French club Rennes. the Dutch side won 1-0, having traded at 3.95 to win and 2.98 to qualify.

Andrei Shevchenko's rehabilitation also continues apace - he struck the decisive goal in AC Milan's 1-0 (4-1 agg) win over FC Zurich. The Italians are favourites to win the UEFA Cup at [5.7].