Liverpool, Dynamo Kiev, PSG progress in Europa League

BERLIN - Six more teams secured their places in the last 32 of the Europa League Thursday following the penultimate round of matches in the tournament’s group stage.

The seven teams that booked their places Wednesday were joined by five-time European champions Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Besiktas Istanbul, Dynamo Kiev and Sparta Prague.

A 1-1 draw away to Steaua Bucharest was enough to ensure Liverpool progress from Group K as group winners.

Milan Jovanovic put Liverpool in front with a first-half header but a blunder from goalkeeper Pepe Reina saw Eder Bomfim equalize for Steaua just after the hour mark.

Sotiris Kyrgiakos could have won it for Roy Hodgson’s side but the defender’s header came back off the crossbar.

Liverpool top Group K with nine points, followed by Steaua on six and Napoli and Utrecht on four points apiece after the two sides played out a 3-3 draw.

Already qualified FC Porto defeated Rapid Vienna 3-1 courtesy of a hat trick by Falcao in Group L while Turkish side Besiktas defeated CSKA Sofia 2-1 away to assure their progress.

In Group J, Mathieu Bodmer put PSG in front after just 17 minutes and Guillaume Hoarau netted the first of his two goals three minutes later of a Nene corner to double the home side’s lead.

Sevilla responded through a brace from Frederic Kanoute but a superb Nene shot from distance restored PSG’s lead just before the break and Hoarau made it 4-2 just two minutes after the restart.

The result means PSG remain unbeaten and top the group with 11 points, two clear of Sevilla and three ahead of Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund, who kept their hopes of progress alive with a 3-0 victory over Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv.

Shinji Kagawa, Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski netted the goals for Juergen Klopp’s side who now need a victory away to Sevilla in their final group game to make the next phase.

“Now we have the final that we hoped for,” said Kagawa. “It is great that we have our destiny in our hands now.”

Kiev joined BATE Borisov as qualifiers from Group E after beating the Belarussians 4-1 while Sheriff Tiraspol and AZ Alkmaar played out a 1-1 draw in the other group game.

Tomas Necid netted a brace as already qualified CSKA Moscow, winners of the tournament in 2005, maintained their 100-per-cent record in Group F with a 5-1 hammering of Swiss side Lausanne Sport.

Sparta join CSKA after a 1-1 draw gave the Czechs second spot in the group.

It remains wide open in Group D with three teams battling for the two qualifying places.

Villarreal top the group with nine points following a 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb. Greek side PAOK Saloniki sit in second place, one point adrift, after a 1-1 draw with FC Brugge.

Dinamo, who lie third on seven points, can still qualify with victory over PAOK in their final group game.

The final round of group matches take place on Dec 15 and 16.