Gojko Kacar's second-half goal allowed Hertha Berlin to book their ticket for the last 32 of the Europa League despite a lacklustre display against Group D winners Sporting Lisbon.

Kacar scored the game's only goal in the 70th minute as Hertha, the Bundesliga's bottom team, put their domestic woes aside and fended off Heerenveen to reach the knockout stage of the European competition.

Sporting came into the game already qualified for the last 32 and guaranteed to finish top of the pool, while Hertha needed at least one point to advance. Their win secured second place on 10 points - condemning Heerenveen to third spot on eight points despite their 5-0 home win over FK Ventspils this evening.

Hertha began to mount some pressure in the early stages but failed to produce the final ball.

The first dangerous situation for the hosts came in the 25th minute but Maximilian Nicu's shot was deflected away by Daniel Carrico.

Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio did a fine job to prevent his side going behind to a Kacar header two minutes later.

Patricio again stopped Hertha two minutes before the break, keeping out Fabian Lustenberger's low shot from long range.

Sporting's best opportunity arrived a minute later. Murat Izmaylov found space six yards out but his mis-hit shot flew well over the goal.

Hertha goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny rushed out just in time after 62 minutes to snatch the ball from a charging Simon Vukcevic, who had got past the German team's back-line.

The hosts were close to getting on the scoreboard three minutes later but Cicero's header from a corner went just over the bar from eight yards.

Adrian Ramos was then stopped with 21 minutes left by Patricio from six yards out.

But Hertha finally grabbed their much-needed goal in the 70th minute. Nicu's cross from the right side found its way - via the head of a Sporting defender - to the far post, where Kacar controlled on his chest and fired home.

Sporting did not need to do much with first place already locked up and Hertha lacked the means to break through the visitors' defence again, although Drobny needed a superb save to stop Saleiro's dangerous blast from 11 yards with two minutes to play.