Early exit for Lazio as Salzburg advance

LAZIO crashed out of the Europa League last night 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.

The top two in Group I were also finalised last night 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. Sergey Sosnovskiy halved the deficit in the 69th minute but to little avail.

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.

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 had put the home side ahead with just seven minutes left.