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PARIS: Fulham compromised their hopes of advancing in the Europa League on Thursday when Roma came from behind to win 2-1 in Italy, the English Premiership side ending the Group E contest with nine men, while Everton slumped 2-0 at home to Benfica.
Diomansy Kamara shocked the Stadio Olimpico by netting a spot-kick on 19 minutes after Marco Andreolli brought him down but everything went downhill for the visitors thereafter as substitute Erik Nevland was dismissed within three minutes of coming on for a heavy challenge on Daniele De Rossi.
Former Liverpool man John Arne Riise then levelled after 69 minutes with a deflected effort and Stefano Okaka headed the clincher a quarter of an hour from the end before defender Paul Konchesky fouled Rodrigo Taddei to leave Fulham two men down.
The loss means Roy Hodgson's side, who had held the Romans on their own turf, suffered their first reverse in the group and they now stand third, two points behind Roma with two games remaining.
At Goodison Park, Everton were outclassed for the second time by Benfica, the Portuguese winning with strikes from Javier Saviola after good work by highly-rated Angel di Maria, then an acrobatic volley from Oscar Cardozo to leave the Portuguese three points clear at the top of Group I.
The win meant a happy return to Merseyside for Benfica legend Eusebio, who scored six of his nine goals at Goodison in the 1966 World Cup, including two in a win over Brazil and four more in the memorable 5-3 success over North Korea.
"Today for me, for my family, it's a good day, for Benfica to play here. This stadium for me is the best stadium in my playing life," Eusebio told Channel Five television before the game.
The top two teams from each group will join the third-placed sides from the eight Champions League groups in the last 32.
Shakhtar Donetsk, who won the final UEFA Cup competition last season before the competition morphed into the Europa League, are through after they made it four wins in four games, beating French side Toulouse 2-0 in Group J.
Werder Bremen of Germany are through after seeing off Austria Vienna 2-0 in Group L.
French veteran Robert Pires was twice on target for Villarreal in Group G group in a 4-1 home romp over Lazio to join the Italians on six points.
Celtic's hopes of advancing hang by a thread after they could only manage a goalless draw in Hamburg, to whom they had lost at home in Group C.
Celtic, just one win now in 25 European away ties, prop up the group with Thursday's point only their second to date after striker Scott McDonald missed two good chances to secure maximum points at the Nordbank Arena.
The Germans lie second in the group on seven points with Israeli outfit Hapoel Tel Aviv out in front after the latter moved onto nine points following a 3-0 romp at Rapid Vienna.
Elsewhere, Ajax are as good as through after they won 2-0 away to nine-man Dinamo Zagreb with Marko Pantelic and Demy de Zeeuw on target.
Dinamo had Leandro Cufre and Adrian Calello dismissed in a match played behind closed doors owing to recent crowd trouble.
Anderlecht are also looking set fair for the next phase after a 3-1 home success over Romania's Timisoara left them and their Dutch rivals six points clear.
In Group B, veteran Hernan Crespo was on target as Genoa edged out Lille 3-2 while Valencia, twice Champions League finalists, let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Slavia Prague.
Lille are still a point ahead of Valencia and Genoa.
Turkish side Galalatasary are through from Group F after Aussie striker and former Leeds and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell netted the opener in a 3-0 win at Dinamo Bucharest.
Europa League results on Thursday:
Group A
Anderlecht (BEL) 3 FC Timisoara (ROM) 1
Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) 0 Ajax (NED) 2
Group B
Genoa (ITA) 3 Lille (FRA) 2
Slavia Prague (CZE) 2 Valencia (ESP) 2
Group C
Hamburg (GER) 0 Celtic (SCO) 0
Rapid Vienna (AUT) 0 Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISR) 3
Group D
Heerenveen (NED) 2 Hertha Berlin (GER) 3
Sporting Lisbon (POR) 1 FK Ventspils (LIT) 1
Group E
Basle (SUI) 3 CSKA Sofia (BUL) 1
Roma (ITA) 2 Fulham (ENG) 1
Group F
Dinamo Bucharest (ROM) 0 Galatasaray (TUR) 3
SK Sturm Graz (AUT) 0 Panathinaikos (GRE) 1
- AFP/de
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