PSV Eindhoven qualified for the knockout stage of the Europa League in less than convincing fashion as Tomas Repka's stoppage-time own goal earned them victory over Sparta Prague.

Fred Rutten's side had marginally the best of an uninspiring Group K clash in which the only real danger from both teams came from set-pieces or long-range shots.

And the winner when it came was in keeping with the game, Repka diverting Orlando Engelaar's header into the corner of his own net.

The win guaranteed the hosts top spot in the pool, moving them four points ahead of their opponents and FC Copenhagen with one game to play.

Sparta are at home to the Danish side in their final game and need to win to progress.

PSV had the first chance of the game when Erik Pieters' cross picked out Jonathan Reis in the centre of the area, but goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek caught his header.

At the other end Igor Zofcak's right-footed effort from long range was comfortably held by Andreas Isaksson before PSV midfielder Engelaar sent a header from Balazs Dzsudzsak's outswinging corner from the left over the bar.

Isaksson was almost embarrassed in the 35th minute when he fumbled Zofcak's free-kick crossed in from the left, but he still managed to make the save.

The Dutch side went closest in stoppage-time at the end of the half when Ibrahim Afellay's 25-yard shot forced a parry from Blazek.

The home side looked the more adventurous early in the second period, Danko Lazovic shooting wide of the right post and former Czech Republic defender Repka clearing from three Dzsudzsak's corner in the space of four minutes.

They were almost caught out in the 56th minute, though, when Jan Holenda got his head to Zofcak's left-footed free-kick from his own half, only for Isaksson to make the save.

His opposite number Blazek was forced into a more testing stop six minutes later when he parried Dzsudzsak's curling free-kick.

The Czechs might have snatched the lead with 14 minutes remaining, Bony Wilfred's header from a right-wing free-kick from Kamil Vacek flying over.

Instead it was PSV who pinched victory as Repka's error denied the visitors what would have been a decent point.