Royal Antwerp 3-2 Barcelona

Royal Antwerp won a first Champions League game on Wednesday with a surprise 3-2 home victory over Barcelona, securing their first points in Group H although it was not enough for them continue in this season's European club competition.

Teenager Arthur Vermeeren had Antwerp ahead after 90 seconds but Barcelona equalised 10 minutes before halftime through Ferran Torres.

Vincent Janssen put Antwerp in front again early in the second half, a lead they held going into stoppage time when 17-year-old Marc Guiu tried to deny home celebrations with an equaliser.

Antwerp had lost its five previous matches and was going to finish last in Group H regardless of the result. Barcelona had already qualified for the knockout stage before kickoff and finished top of the group despite the loss.

With nothing left to play for, Antwerp attacked from the start in a game full of twists and turns.

Royal Antwerp battled hard throughout the first half but were pegged back after the half-hour mark by an exquisite Barcelona counter run by young academy product Lamine Yamal and finished by Ferran Torres. Yet the Catalan side would be punished for another mistake shortly after the break, as Oriol Romeu's error in possession would see Vincent Janssen produce the second for the hosts on 56 minutes.

Barcelona pushed for a second equaliser after the break, but they were matched by Mark van Bommel's hosts who took the punches in stride and returned every blow to their opponents of equal measure. That was true as the match reached stoppage time, as Marc Guiu's 91st-minute goal only brought Barcelona level for two minutes, with 17-year-old George Ilenikhena giving the Belgian hosts the win just moments after play resumed.

The Spanish club, who rested regulars, had already secured a top-two place before Wednesday's game and the 5-3 win for Porto over Shakhtar Donetsk in the other group game confirmed Barcelona as group winners despite their defeat. 

Both teams kept the same intensity after the interval.

Janssen had a goal canceled for an offside position before Yamal hit the crossbar in an enthralling start to the second half.

Antwerp kept pushing hard and Janssen was finally able to add his name to the scoresheet in the 56th after Alhassan Yussuf stole the ball from Romeu

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Sarah H

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