Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic all moved to the brink of the UEFA Europa League round-of-32 on Thursday, while Dynamo Moscow, Legia Warsaw, Red Bull Salzburg and ACF Fiorentina ensured their passage to the knockout rounds.
Everton eased past LOSC Lille Metropole 3-0 at Goodison Park to stay top of Group H with eight points after goals from Leon Osman, Phil Jagielka and a thunderous drive from Steven Naismith.
Rivals VfL Wolfsburg also stayed in contention in the group with a 5-1 thumping of Krasnodar, with former Arsenal misfit Nicklas Bendtner scoring twice in the last two minutes.
Photo: Reuters
“One of our biggest assets is that everyone works hard for each other and when we lose the ball we work hard to get it get it back,” Scotland international Naismith said. “That was very evident in the first half and I think that was where we won the game.”
After a taxing week for some of their English Premier League rivals in the UEFA Champions League, Spurs survived a poor second-half display to run out 2-1 winners at Greek side Asteras Tripolis.
Andros Townsend’s penalty and Harry Kane’s quick second goal set the north Londoners up nicely, but Asteras pulled one back via a last-minute penalty after Federico Fazio’s red card.
Photo: EPA
There may have been no repeat of Spurs’ 5-1 rout in which Kane got a hat-trick and Erik Lamela produced his “rabona” goal against the Greeks in London last month, but in the end it was job done to stretch Tottenham’s unbeaten run in the competition to four matches.
Spurs are level with Besiktas on eight points in Group C and on their way to the knockout stages with two games remaining.
“We came to get the three points, the result is good and I am happy,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said.
Celtic’s Group D 1-1 draw against Astra Giurgiu in Romania was played out in thick fog.
The Scottish champions were fired into the lead by Stefan Johansen, only for Brazilian substitute William Amorim to level with a brilliant curling shot to beat Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
While a win would have seen them safely through to the next round, the draw left them second on eight points, two adrift of Salzburg, 5-2 winners at GNK Dinamo Zagreb.
Jonatan Soriano scored a hat-trick for the Austrian side, who are safely into the knockout stages.
Dynamo Moscow went through from Group E thanks to a 1-0 win at GD Estoril Praia, with Kevin Kuranyi scoring the crucial goal just three minutes after coming off the bench.
Legia Warsaw beat Metalist Kharkiv 2-1 in the Polish capital to also make the round-of-32 with a fourth win in Group L.
Manuel Pasqual scored two minutes from time as Fiorentina drew 1-1 with PAOK in Florence to secure qualification in Group K.
Fellow Italians Inter were held 1-1 at AS Saint-Etienne, but they still lead Group F.
Italy’s last Champions League winners in 2009-2010 took the lead through Brazilian Dodo, only for Moustapha Bayal Sall to equalize for the former French greats in the second half.
SSC Napoli are level on points in Group I with AC Sparta Prague after a 3-0 win over BSC Young Boys, with Netherlands international Jonathan de Guzman scoring a hat-trick.
Defending champions Sevilla top Group G after a 3-1 home win over Royal Standard de Liege.
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