Paris: Premier League duo Everton and Tottenham Hotspur both won to clinch qualification for the knockout phase of the Europa League on Thursday, while Celtic also progressed despite losing at home to Salzburg.The Toffees secured their place in the last 32 as winners of Group ‘H’ with an impressive 2-0 victory away to Bundesliga high-fliers VfL Wolfsburg in Germany.
Tottenham advanced from Group ‘C’ thanks to a 1-0 win at home to Serbian league leaders Partizan Belgrade and a 1-3 loss to Salzburg in Glasgow could not prevent Celtic from going through with a game to spare.Everton knew halfway through their own game that they were through to the last 32 as news filtered in that the other match in Group ‘H’ between FC Krasnodar and Lille in Russia had ended in a 1-1 draw.
And goals from Belgian duo Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas secured a handsome victory for the Blues as they extended their unbeaten run to eight matches and guaranteed top spot in the section.Elsewhere, Dinamo Moscow beat Panathinaikos 2-1 to secure qualification for the last 32 as winners of Group ‘E’.
In the same group, Estoril’s game at home to PSV Eindhoven will be completed on Friday after being abandoned at half-time due to torrential rain with the Portuguese side leading 3-2. Inter clinched first place in Group ‘F’ by coming from behind to beat Dnipro 2-1.
