Europa League Wrap: Ghana stars Acheampong, Wakaso & Duncan win big, Kwarasey tastes defeat

Ghana internationals Frank Acheampong, Wakaso Mubarak and Alfred Duncan were big winners among Ghanaian players who featured in Thursday night's Uefa Europa League.

Acheampong starred in an attacking midfield role for Belgian giants Anderlecht who sealed a commanding 3-0 win over Czech Republic side Slavia Praha. The former King Faisal star operated from the wings while French-born Ghanaian defender Dennis Appiah lasted 63 minutes for the victors. Former Dreams FC starlet Emmanuel Sowah could not make the Anderlecht squad for the game.

Meanwhile at the Arena Astana in Kazakhstan, striker Patrick Twumasi who was handed a debut Ghana call-up in June, played 89 minutes for FC Astana who cruised to a smooth 2-0 win over Bate Barisov in the first-leg tie.

Former Chievo Verona attacker Caleb Ekuban and his Partizani side have an uphill task in their reverse fixture after suffering a huge 4-0 loss against Russian side FK Krasnodar. Ekuban lasted the entire period of the game for the Albanian side.

However at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Austria, goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey manned the post for Norwegian side Rosenborg BK who succumbed to a 2-1 loss against Ticco Bundesliga side Austria Vienna. Kwarasey's Rosenborg BK dropped from the Uefa Champions League to the Europa League.

Elsewhere at the Gamla Ullevi in Sweden, former Inter Allies defender Saba Lawson was unused by Goteborg IF who nicked a slim 1-0 win over Qarabag from Azerbaijan.

Midfielder Bennard Kumordzi watched from the bench when his Genk side held Croatian side Lokomotiv Zagreb to a 2-2 draw. The lanky player warmed the bench.

Black Stars winger Wakaso Mubarak assisted the opening goal for Panathinaikos and lasted 73 minutes as they humbled nine-man Brondby 3-0. The Danish side were reduced to nine men in the course of the game.

Dutch-born Ghanaian defender Derrick Luckassen was booked in the second-half as he played full throttle for Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar who hammered Serbian side Vojvodina 3-0.

Meanwhile crocked Andre Ayew watched from the screens as his West Ham United side shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Romanian side Astra.

Midfield workhorse Alfred Duncan anchored the game for Serie A side Sassuolo who mauled Red Star Belgrade 3-0 at the CittÃ del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia.

By El Akyereko
Follow the writer on Twitter: @AkyerekOfficial