Europa League Thursday Review
Aston Villa's hopes of advancing in the Europa League were ended by a late goal from Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic.
Martin O'Neill's side looked to have turned around a first leg deficit after a James Milner penalty and John Carew's second half goal had put them 2-1 ahead on aggregate.
But Jelavic, who had scored for Vienna in the first encounter, had the final say with 14 minutes remaining to send Villa crashing out on the away-goals rule after the tie ended 2-2 on aggregate.
But there was better news elsewhere for English sides.
Everton booked their place in the group stages after drawing 1-1 with Sigma Olomouc to wrap up the tie 5-1 on aggregate.
The Toffees suffered an early shock when Tony Hibbert was sent off for a professional foul with only seven minutes on the clock, and Sigma pushed forward immediately to try and take advantage.
But having weathered the storm, Everton hit back shortly before half-time through Steven Pienaar, whose emphatic strike effectively ended the tie and rendered Pavel Sultes' late equaliser a mere consolation.
Martin Kushev headed a late winner for Amkar Perm but Fulham completed a 3-2 aggregate victory in Russia despite the 1-0 loss on the day to secure their place in the group stages.
Roy Hodgson's side had given themselves a two-goal lead to take to Perm, and apart from a major scare in the closing minutes they were comfortable.
Kushev powered home Georgi Peev's cross from the right, via the underside of the crossbar, and the home side passed up a late chance to win the tie on the away goals rule when substitute Nikolai Zhilyaev shot over the bar from eight yards.
Roma and Villarreal were among the most convincing winners in tonight's Europa League qualifying ties.
On a busy evening in Europe, Roma's 7-1 win at home to MFK Kosice - for a 10-4 aggregate - and Villarreal's 6-1 success against NAC Breda (9-2 on aggregate) caught the eye.
Roma's Francesco Totti scored the first goal of his hat-trick in the opening minute - adding the others in the sixth and 86th minutes - and although the Italians let one in seven minutes before the break, they were soon sure of progressing after a 3-3 draw in the away leg.
Villarreal had lost their first leg 3-1 but put things right in style - thanks to two first-half penalties from Giuseppe Rossi and four other goalscorers. Breda's only goal came from Edwin De Graaf 10 minutes from time.
Hearts restored some pride with a 2-0 victory on the night against Dinamo Zagreb at Tynecastle.
Goals from Michael Stewart and Marius Zaliukas sparked hopes of a dramatic turnaround, but the 4-0 first-leg defeat in Zagreb proved too much to overcome as the Edinburgh club crashed out 4-2 on aggregate.
Steaua Bucharest scored twice late in the game to win 2-1 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate against St Patrick's.
St Pat's went in front at the RDS Arena when Garreth O'Connor scored after 49 minutes, but after the 3-0 defeat in Romania more goals were required.
Two more arrived but both went to Steaua, with substitute Banel Nicolita netting an 80th-minute equaliser and Iulian Ochirosii grabbing a winner in the 89th minute.
Among tonight's 38 ties, there were notable victories for PSV Eindhoven (2-0 on aggregate against Bnei Yehuda Tel Aviv after a second 1-0 win at home), Hertha Berlin (after a 3-1 away win at Brondby) and Benfica (5-2 on aggregate, despite losing 2-1 away to Vorskla Poltava).
Galatasaray could only draw 1-1 at FC Levadia Tallinn but had a 5-0 buffer from the home leg.
Other teams to progress to the group stages tonight included Shakhtar Donetsk, Basle, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Hamburg, CSKA Sofia, Heerenveen, Sturm Graz, Dinamo Bucharest, FC Twente, Toulouse, AEK Athens, Slavia Prague, Fenerbahce, Ajax, Lazio, Sparta Prague, Genoa, Werder Bremen, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Club Brugge - who needed penalties against KKS Lech Poznan.
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