Sports

Spurs advance in Europa league

AP

Tottenham was among nine teams to qualify for the knockout stage of the Europa league on Thursday after beating Partizan Belgrade 1-0 in a match that was briefly suspended because of three separate pitch invasions.

Inter Milan and Napoli also advanced to ensure there will be at least three Italian clubs in the last 32 of Europe's secondary competition.

Spurs' victory, secured by Benjamin Stambouli's 49th-minute winner, was overshadowed by a succession of pitch invasions that forced the referee to halt the game after 41 minutes. It appeared to be an orchestrated PR campaign, with the individuals entering the field of play wearing shirts with the logo of a Tottenham sponsor.

Besiktas, Celtic, Everton, Dynamo Kiev, Feyenoord and Trabzonspor also progressed with one group game to spare.

The Group E game between Estoril and PSV Eindhoven was abandoned at halftime after torrential rain in Portugal made the pitch unplayable. UEFA said the game will be completed on Friday, with Estoril leading 3-2 and needing a win to stay alive in the competition.

Spurs top the group and are two points clear of Besiktas ahead of their meeting in two weeks. Besiktas squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at Asteras Tripolis but still progressed.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini celebrated his 50th birthday by seeing his team beat Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 2-1 and secure first place in Group F. Dani Osvaldo scored the winner in the 50th minute, soon after Andrea Ranocchia was sent off for Inter for a second yellow card.

Napoli's 0-0 draw at Sparta Prague ensured the Italians cannot be denied a top-two finish in Group I.

Everton will finish first in Group H after beating Wolfsburg 2-0 away through goals by Belgium internationals Romelu lukaku and Kevin Mirallas. Dynamo Kiev beat Rio Ave 2-0 to ensure progress from Group J, Feyenoord won by the same score at home to defending champion Sevilla, while Trabzonspor won to qualify from Group l. Celtic joined Salzburg in qualifying from Group D despite losing 3-1 at home.