Europa League Thursday Review

Benfica blew UEFA Europa League Group I wide open with a comprehensive 5-0 defeat of previously unbeaten Everton.

Javier Saviola and Oscar Cardozo both scored twice for the home team.

Saviola's superb half-volley from Angel Di Maria's cross handed the Portuguese side an interval lead before the hosts scored three times in five minutes early in the second half through Cardozo (two) and Luisao.

Saviola's second late on helped Benfica to the top of the standings.

BATE Borisov came from behind to beat AEK Athens 2-1 to move to third, with Aleksandr Alumona heading the winner five minutes from time after the visitors had Daniel Majstorovic sent off.

Defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk all but confirmed their presence in the last 32 with a 4-0 defeat of Toulouse.

The Ukraine side scored four times for the third successive Group J match, with Luiz Adriano scoring twice and Fernandinho, with a penalty, and Tomas Hubschman also on target.

Club Brugge moved level with Toulouse on four points as a goal in each half from Ivan Perisic gave the Belgians their first victory of the campaign with a 2-0 defeat of struggling Partizan Belgrade.

Substitute Tommaso Rocchi scored a stoppage-time winner as 10-man Lazio picked up their second win in Group G and heaped further misery on hapless Villarreal.

Sebastian Eguren cancelled out Mauro Zarate's effort for Lazio as the sides were level at 1-1 at the break.

The hosts were on top in the second period despite the controversial dismissal of Francelino Matuzalem for a supposed dive and Rocchi slid in Aleksandar Kolarov's low cross in the 92nd minute to earn a thrilling win.

The Italians move onto six points in the standings, three behind leaders Salzburg, who defeated Levski Sofia 1-0 with Dusan Svento on target.

Colin Kazim-Richards was the hero for Fenerbahce, capping a lively performance with the only goal of the game as the Turkish side saw off bottom club Steaua Bucharest 1-0 to stay top of Group H.

Moldovan champions FC Sheriff joined FC Twente on four points with a 2-0 defeat of the Dutch side.

Jonathan Reis' goal was enough for PSV Eindhoven to extend their lead in Group K with a 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen.

Sparta Prague claimed their first win, beating CFR Cluj 2-0 to move into second place behind PSV Eindhoven courtesy of first-half goals by Juraj Kucka and Roman Hubnik.

Spain striker Fernando Llorente struck a late winner as Athletic Bilbao put their poor run of form behind them with a 2-1 comeback victory over CD Nacional in Group L.

Substitute Thiago Schumacher's late strike earned FK Austria Vienna a 2-2 draw with leaders Werder Bremen, for whom Claudio Pizarro scored twice.

Joao Moutinho scored a stunning late winner to give Sporting Lisbon a third straight win in Group D of the Europa League, as FK Ventspils were beaten 2-1.

The Latvians had looked likely to nick a draw when Juris Laizans converted a 65th-minute penalty to cancel out Miguel Veloso's opener direct from a corner.

But Moutinho smashed a memorable effort into the top corner from a wide position 25 yards out to leave the Portuguese in firm control of the group.

Hernan Pablo Losada's first-half goal was enough as 10-man Heerenveen collected a crucial first victory by winning 1-0 on the road at 10-man Hertha Berlin.

The Argentinian struck after 36 minutes for the Dutch side, who finished with 10 men as Daryl Janmaat was shown a second-half red card after 76 minutes. Berlin also finished with 10 men after Patrick Ebert collected two yellow cards.

Luis Suarez inspired Ajax to a comfortable 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in Group A.

Suarez earnt a penalty within 90 seconds of the start of the game and scored from the spot before setting up Dennis Rommedahl's second.

Ajax share the lead with Anderlecht, who were held to a goalless draw at Timisoara.

Galatasaray top Group F after a 4-1 win over Dinamo Bucharest, with Shabani Nonda scoring twice. Harry Kewell and Elano were also on target.

Panathinaikos are a point behind in second after a Dimitris Salpigidis penalty proved enough to seal a 1-0 victory over Sturm Graz.

Hapoel Tel Aviv went top of Group C, on goal difference from Hamburg, by thumping previous leaders Rapid Vienna 5-1.

An own goal from Andreas Dober and strikes from Zurab Menteshashvili, Itey Shechter, Gil Vermouth and Maaran Lala secured the Israelis the victory.

Marcus Berg's second-half goal gave Germany's Hamburg a 1-0 victory over Celtic in the clash at Parkhead.

Basle went top of Group E thanks to two goals from Switzerland striker Alexander Frei in the 2-0 win at CSKA Sofia.

Fulham are second after Marco Andreolli struck a 94th-minute equaliser for Roma to earn a 1-1 draw.

Mark Schwarzer had saved a late penalty from Jeremy Menez which also saw Stephen Kelly sent off, after Brede Hangeland had handed the hosts a first-half lead.

Valencia were held 1-1 by Group B basement club Slavia Prague in a match which finished 10-a-side after two sendings off.

The hosts' David Navarro cancelled out Riste Naumov's opener before Hocine Ragued and Spain star David Villa saw red.

Lille beat Genoa 3-0 with Ludovic Obraniak, Robert Vittek and Eden Hazard on target.

Match Reports

Group A

FC Timisoara 0-0 Anderlecht

Ajax 2-1 Dinamo Zagreb

Group B

Valencia 1-1 Slavia Prague

Lille 3-0 Genoa

Group C

Celtic 0-1 Hamburg