AMSTERDAM – Defender Oguchi Onyewu worked a solid full shift in vain as FC Twente opened their Europa League quarterfinal tie with a crushing 5-1 loss at Villarreal on Thursday night.
The Yellow Submarine continued their Madrigal mastery, winning at home for the seventh time in as many tries during this tourney.
Carlos Marchena nodded home a corner kick to put the hosts up midway through the opening frame, and a pair of flubs just before the break by Twente skipper Peter Wisgerhof allowed the Spaniards to make it a three-goal lead.
While Onyewu was not culpable in any of the breakdowns that led to Villarreal goals, he did hesitate in closing down countryman Giuseppe Rossi on the home side's fourth, a lefty golazo from above the area on 55 minutes.
Nilmar duped Douglas to make space for a fifth Villarreal goal 10 minutes from time, but sub Marc Janko gave the Tukkers a slim ray of miracle comeback hope by nodding home a stoppage-time away goal.
The teams reunite in Enschede next Thursday to settle the tie. The winner will likely face Porto, also 5-1 home winners against Spartak Moscow, in the semifinals.
