Debut goal for Riedel

Julian Riedel scored a debut goal to earn an under-strength Bayer Leverkusen victory at home to Rosenborg in the Europe League.

Julian Riedel scored a debut goal to earn an under-strength Bayer Leverkusen victory at home to Rosenborg in the Europe League tonight. The 21-year-old finished from close range midway through the second half to settle the Group K dead rubber. Leverkusen were already guaranteed second place, while their Norwegian opponents' hopes of progression were over, and both teams played like there was little at stake in the first half. But the hosts picked up the pace after the break and their young, new-look side deserved the win. Leverkusen were able to rest their established players and the stand-ins took time to find their feet. Junior Fernandes had a header saved, while Renato Augusto's drilled effort from 25 yards was also kept out by visiting goalkeeper Alexander Lund Hansen. Rosenborg went closest to scoring in the first half, though, with Tarik Elyounoussi's volley brilliantly tipped round the post by 19-year-old keeper Niklas Lomb just before the break. The hosts made a double substitution at half-time, with senior players Sidney Sam and Simon Rolfes coming on, indicating boss Sami Hyypia was not happy with what he had seen in the first 45 minutes. And the changes instilled some impetus in the hosts with winger Sam firing wide within two minutes. Dominik Kohr then produced a fine block from Hansen, while Fernandes shot against a post. Leverkusen went in front in the 65th minute and it was two debutants who combined to score. Carlos Vinicius Santos de Jesus, an 18-year-old on loan from Cruzeiro in Brazil, set up Riedel to slide the ball low into the corner from inside the six-yard box. The visitors showed little appetite to get back into the match as Leverkusen finished the group stage with a routine win.