Lazio out of Europa League

Lazio out of Europa League

Lazio crashed out of the Europa League following their 2-1 defeat at Salzburg and Villarreal's 2-0 win at Levski Sofia.

The results left the Italians third in Group G and unable to catch second-placed Villarreal, who ensured their progress to the last 32 alongside pool winners Salzburg.

Rabiu Afolabi put Salzburg ahead early in the second half and, although they were pegged back by Pasquale Foggia's leveller five minutes later, Somen Tchoyi struck the winner 12 minutes from time.

Salzburg's victory - their fifth in as many games - kept them six points clear of Villarreal, who eased past sorry Levski thanks to goals from Giuseppe Rossi and substitute Marcos Senna.

Villarreal are three points ahead of Lazio with one game still to go, but hold the better head-to-head record against the Serie A side so are guaranteed to progress.

The top two in Group I were also finalised this evening as Benfica and Everton booked their spots in the knockout phase.

The Portuguese outfit were 2-1 winners over BATE Borisov in Belarus.

Javier Saviola put the Lisbon giants in front within seconds of the restart, and the Argentinian then laid on a second for Fabio Coentrao.

BATE defender Sergey Sosnovskiy halved the deficit in the 69th minute but to little avail.

Everton secured second place with a 1-0 triumph at AEK Athens.

Fenerbahce secured top spot in Group H with a 1-0 win at FC Twente.

Diego Lugano's second-half strike clinched the three points for the Turkish club to put them in an unassailable position, five points clear at the pool summit.

The result left the outlook less rosy for Twente, however. Steve McClaren's side must win at Steaua Bucharest in a fortnight's time to be sure of their place in the knockout phase.

Juan Carlos Toja netted an 87th-minute equaliser for Steaua Bucharest to secure a 1-1 draw at FC Sheriff and deal a hammer blow to the Moldovans' hopes of advancing.

Amath Diedhiou put the home side ahead with only seven minutes remaining but Toja levelled four minutes later.

Martin Jol's Ajax booked their place in the knockout phase courtesy of a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at nine-man FC Timisoara - despite missing two second-half penalties.

Dorin Goga stunned the visitors with the game's first goal inside two minutes but Luis Suarez equalised six minutes later and Marko Pantelic put the Amsterdam giants ahead soon after the restart.

Defender Eder Bonfim and goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon were both given their marching orders in the second half. Suarez saw both the resulting penalties saved but Timisoara could not capitalise.

The outcome left Jol's side three points clear of second-placed Anderlecht, whose qualification for the knockout phase is by no means assured following the 1-0 defeat at home to Dinamo Zagreb.

Miroslav Slepicka headed home Dinamo's winner as the Croatian outfit moved onto six points in Group A, two behind Anderlecht heading into the decisive final round of fixtures.

Valencia moved into pole position in Group B thanks to a 3-1 home triumph over Lille.

Joaquin netted inside three minutes and then doubled the lead after 32 minutes, with the impressive Juan Mata wrapping up victory seven minutes after half-time. Franck Beria scored a consolation in injury-time.

The Spaniards began the match a point behind their opponents but head into their final group game against Genoa two points clear of both after the Italians could only draw 0-0 at Slavia Prague .

Genoa will have to beat Valencia in their final pool fixture if they are to be certain of progressing following this evening's stalemate in the Czech capital.

Marcell Jansen and Marcus Berg were on target as Hamburg advanced with a 2-0 home victory over Rapid Vienna in Group C.

Jansen opened the scoring after 47 minutes and Berg doubled the hosts' advantage six minutes later as Hamburg set aside their Bundesliga woes with a solid victory.

Hamburg's win also ensured Hapoel Tel Aviv's progress and spelt the end of the European road for Celtic, despite the Scottish side's 2-0 victory.