Fenerbahce secured their progress to the last 32 of the Europa League and top spot in Group H with a hard-fought victory at FC Twente.

Diego Lugano's second-half strike clinched the three points for the Turkish club to put them in an unassailable position five points clear at the pool summit.

The result left the outlook less rosy for Twente, however. Steve McClaren's side now have to win at Steaua Bucharest in a fortnight's time to be sure of their place in the knockout phase.

The hosts saw more of the ball in the first half but it was the visitors who had the better of the early chances.

The lively Daniel Guiza saw an early header caught by Twente goalkeeper Sander Boschker and then had a shot blocked by David Carney.

Roberto Carlos, whose contract with Fener expires this month and who today claimed he had agreed a two-year deal with Brazilian outfit Corinthians, then tried his luck only to also be denied by Boschker.

Boschker had to be alert again in the 32nd minute to tip over a fierce 20-yard blast from the left foot of Alex

At the other end, Fener goalkeeper Volkan Demirel was called into significant action for the first time nine minutes before the break, parrying a dangerous corner from Kenneth Perez to safety.

Perez came closest to breaking the deadlock in the 42nd minute, hitting the post with a decent right-footed attempt from just inside the area.

Clear-cut chances were few and far between at the start of the second period, with Ronnie Stam's harmless shot drifting over for Twente and Mehmet Topuz's effort for Fener comfortable for Boschker.

The writing was on the wall for the home team in the 70th minute when Boschker had to block Guiza's header from Roberto Carlos' cross.

Two minutes later, Lugano met Alex's outswinging corner and nodded past Boschker and into the bottom-left corner.

Blaise Nkufo's shot hit the post in stoppage time as Twente pushed for the equaliser, but it was not to be and they now have it all to do in Romania later this month.