Defeat for Everton and Fulham

Europa League review:Goals from Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardoza saw Everton's Europa League hopes suffer a setback at Goodison Park as they lost 2-0 to Benfica.

Benfica completed the double in Group I thanks to a rousing second half performance to cement their place at the top. Everton are still favourites for second place after BATE Borisovand AEK Athens, drew 2-2 in Greece.

The Toffees have a two-point lead over both sides, and head to Athens on December 2nd, before hosting BATE two weeks later.

One more point will guarantee Benfica a place in the last 32.

Javier Saviola opened the scoring in the 63rd minute and Oscar Cardozo made the points safe 13 minutes later with a volley from a tight angle.

The defeat is Everton's heaviest at home in Europe and comes after their worst ever away loss in the 5-0 thumping at the Stadium of Light two weeks ago.

Earlier, Roma came from behind to beat nine-man Fulham at the Stadio Olimpico in Group E. Diomansy Kamara put the Cottagers ahead in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after being brought down inside the area by Marco Andreolli.

Fulham shot themselves in the foot early in the second half, when substitute Erik Nevland was shown a straight red card three minutes after coming on for a tackle on Daniele De Rossi.

Roma took advantage with John Arne Riise equalising in the 68th minute before Stefano Okaka headed in the winner with 14 minutes remaining.

Fulham defender Paul Konchesky was handed his marching orders late in the game after a foul on substitute Rodrigo Taddei.

The result marked Fulham’s first defeat in the competition and left them third in the group, two points behind Roma with two games remaining.

Group E leaders Baslecoasted to victory at home to strugglers CSKA Sofiato go two points clear.

The Swiss began tonight with a one-point advantage over Fulham but the Italians are their nearest challengers now.

A goal in each half from Alexander Frei and one before the break from Marcos Gelabert did the trick for the hosts, who soon regained control after Todor Yanchev got one back for CSKA early in the second half.

Ajaxput themselves on the brink of qualification for the last 32 with a comfortable win away to nine-man Dinamo Zagrebin Group A.

Marko Pantelic scored the opener after 14 minutes and Demy de Zeeuw added a second in first-half stoppage time.

By that time Dinamo were already down to 10 men after Leandro Cufre was dismissed for serious foul play, and it got worse for the hosts when Adrian Calello picked up a second yellow card 17 minutes from time.

It was a miserable night for Dinamo, who were forced to play the game behind closed doors because of the crowd disturbances in the match against Timisoaralast month, which also saw them deducted three points, subject to appeal.

Anderlecht's3-0 win over Timisoara puts them and Ajax six points clear.

Valenciamissed the chance to take a stranglehold on Group B after they were left with egg on their face after allowing struggling Slavia Pragueto battle back from 2-0 down to draw despite playing with 10 men for most of the second half.

With Lilleheading to defeat in Genoa, in-form Valencia looked set to take over top spot after going ahead in Prague through Joaquin Sanchez's first-half penalty and Hedwiges Maduro's thunderbolt at the start of the second period, before Slavia lost Zdenek Senkerik to a red card in the 49th minute.

However, Slavia made a mockery of their dismal recent record in Europe — they had won just one of their previous 22 victories on the continent — by hitting back to take a share of the spoils thanks to late goals from Petr Janda (79) and Peter Grajciar (82), before Valencia’s misery was compounded when they had Ruben Baraja sent off in injury-time.

The result means Valencia remain in second place in the group, one point behind Lille but now level on six points with Genoa after the Italians won 3-2.

Slavia are still bottom with just two points — both of which have now come against Valencia.

Group D leaders Sporting Lisbonwill have to wait a little while longer to book their place in the last 32 after losing their 100 per cent record by drawing with Ventspils at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Despite the draw, the Portuguese giants still hold all the aces, as they are now on 10 points, six clear of Heerenveenand Hertha Berlin— who won 3-2 in Holland tonight — with just two games remaining.

Galatasaraybooked their place in the last 32 with a convincing 3-0 win against Dinamo Bucharest.

Goals from Harry Kewell, Shabani Nonda and Mehmet Topal made it a satisfying night for Frank Rijkaard's men, who made it three wins and a draw from four Group F matches.

Kostas Katsouranis' goal earned Panathinaikosvictory over Sturm Grazto move them within touching distance of the second qualifying spot from Group F.

A point against Galatasaray in two weeks will be enough to send the Greeks through to the next round.