Feyenoord beat Wisla to reach last 32
Celta progress at Palermo's expense
Feyenoord beat Wisla Krakow 3-1 yesterday to secure their first win in Europe for two years and a place in the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. Also through were Ajax, Fenerbahce, Hapoel Tel Aviv, Paris SG and Celta Vigo.
Feyenoord needed victory to reach the knockout stage after two draws in Group E and a 3-0 defeat at Nancy two weeks ago in a match marred by crowd violence caused by Dutch fans.
Nicky Hofs opened the scoring for Feyenoord after 15 minutes when he headed a long ball from Ron Vlaar over keeper Emilian Dolha, though seven minutes later Wisla were on level terms.
Jakub Blaszczykowski made a spectacular run past three opponents to set up Pawel Brozek for the equaliser.
However, Wisla failed to take advantage of their dominance and Jonathan de Guzman restored Feyenoord's lead four minutes before the break when he notched in a cross from Joonas Kolkka.
After 67 minutes Greek striker Angelos Charisteas struck from close range to make it 3-1 before Wisla's Dariusz Dudka was sent off for a challenge on Hofs with 12 minutes left.
In France, two goals apiece by Pauleta and Bonaventure Kalou helped troubled Paris St Germain reach the last 32 with a 4-0 thrashing of already-qualified Panathinaikos.
The match at the Parc des Princes was heavily policed following the fatal shooting of a fan by a policeman after PSG's 4-2 defeat against Hapoel Tel Aviv last month.
PSG, who were bottom of Group G before kick-off, finish second behind Panathinaikos with Hapoel taking the third qualifying spot.
The Ligue 1 side, who had not won a game since October 28, opened the scoring when Portugal striker Pauleta lobbed Pierre Ebede Owono on 28 minutes.
The PSG skipper doubled the tally three minutes into the second half with a low shot from inside the box.
Ivory Coast striker Kalou then netted twice within five minutes to complete the rout.
"We qualified in tough circumstances for the club and I am happy for our fans," said PSG coach Guy Lacombe. "We now must confirm this result against Nice (in Ligue 1 on Sunday)."
Celta Vigo knocked Serie A contenders Palermo out of the competition when they held them to a 1-1 draw in Sicily.
Striker Fernando Baiano gave the Spanish side a well-deserved lead in the 58th minute following a lively first-half performance at Palermo's Barbera stadium.
The hosts, struggling to reproduce the form that has carried them to third in Italy's top flight, equalised through Giovanni Tedesco, but could not get the winner they needed to reach the knockout phase.
The result meant Celta finished second in Group H and joined English Premier League team Newcastle and Fenerbahce of Turkey in the last 32. Palermo finished fourth and were eliminated.