Europa League: NK Maribor reach the knockout stages

NK Maribor. Foto: BoBo

Maribor started the day bottom of Group D but a 2-1 win over visitors Wigan Athletic and a heartbreaking defeat for Belgians Zulte Waregem at home to Rubin Kazan, meant the Slovenians leapfrogged both teams into second to reach the knockout stages.

MARIBOR - WIGAN 2:1 (1:1)
9.000; Mezga 42., Filipović 59.; Gomez 41./11-m
: Mertelj 74.; McCann 41.

Maribor: Handanović, Milec, Rajčević, Arghus , Viler, Mezga ( 82./Črnic), Filipović , Mertelj , Bohar, Tavares ( 77./Cvijanović), Fajić ( 85./Mendy).

Wigan: Carson, Beausejour, Rogne, Perch, Barnett, McArthur ( 75./Boyce), McCann, McManaman ( 46./Watson), Gomez , Espinoza, Powell (/65. Fortune).

PSV Eindhoven were dumped out of the Europa League after losing 1-0 at home to Ukrainian side Chernomorets Odessa, who pipped them to the runners-up spot in Group B on Thursday.

Welsh side Swansea City sneaked through from Group A despite losing 1-0 at Swiss team St Gallen, while Maccabi Tel Aviv won 1-0 against visitors Girondins Bordeaux to qualify second from Group F.

Twenty two teams from Groups A-L have now booked their places in the last 32 while Dynamo Kiev and Rapid Vienna in Group G and Freiburg and Slovan Liberec in Group H are competing for the final two spots available later on Thursday.

The eight third-placed sides in this season's Champions League groups will also be in the hat for the draw for the next two rounds that will be held in Nyon on Monday.