Arsenal’s Giroud reaches ton in win, Lokomotiv striker bags quick treble

Reuters: Arsenal led a list of nine clubs who grabbed a second win in as many games in the Europa League group phase as France striker Olivier Giroud scored his 100th goal for the club in a 4-2 win at BATE Borisov on Thursday.

AC Milan, Braga, Dynamo Kiev, Lazio, Nice, Ostersund, Steaua Bucharest and Zenit St Petersburg also won again to add to their success from the opening matchday on Sept. 14.

Former Portugal international Manuel Fernandes scored a hat-trick in the first 17 minutes as Lokomotiv Moscow beat Czech club Zlin 3-0 in Group F.

He opened with a second minute penalty, scored again after six minutes and missed a sitter in the 13th before getting his third. Giroud’s milestone was achieved from the penalty spot soon after halftime as Arsenal’s experimental side had little problem in Belarus with Theo Walcott chiming in with two against BATE. Everton conceded a late equaliser to a header by defender Hector Yuste from a free kick as they suffered an embarrassing 2-2 home draw with Cypriot club Apollon Limassol a fortnight after a 3-0 thumping at Atalanta in their opening Group E game. Atalanta forced a 1-1 draw at Olympique Lyonnais.

The referee had to stop play after an hour of Milan’s match against HNK Rijeka as fireworks rained down from the high stands at San Siro and there was more drama when the Italian giants won 3-2 with almost the last kick of the Group D clash. Milan were cruising after goals from Andre Silva and Mateo Musacchio but they allowed the Croats to pull level with two late goals before snatching victory with a stoppage time winner from Patrick Cutrone.