United dazzles, Inter eliminated

PARIS — Wayne Rooney claimed a piece of club history as he set Manchester United on the way to a 4-0 Europa League win over Feyenoord Thursday that saw them close on the last 32. Rooney got the opening goal against the Dutch side at Old Trafford to score for the 39th time in Europe, matching Ruud van Nistelrooy’s club record. He is now only one goal away from equalling Bobby Charlton’s all-time club scoring record of 249 goals after setting United on the way to a welcome victory. Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard also netted either side of an own goal by Brad Jones and United now needs only draw away to Zorya Luhansk in its final Group A match to qualify. Fenerbahce is top of the section after beating the Ukrainian side 2-0 in Istanbul with second-half goals by Miroslav Stoch and Simon Kjaer. Meanwhile, Southampton’s hopes of reaching the knockout rounds remain in the balance after Claude Puel’s side lost 1-0 away to Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic. A solitary first-half goal by Zimbabwean full-back Costa Nhamoinesu, firing a Borek Dockal free-kick past Fraser Forster, was the difference between the sides at the Generali Arena. Southampton could have clinched qualification in different circumstances but instead it now faces a decisive final Group K game against Hapoel Beer-Sheva at St Mary’s next month, while Sparta progress as group winners. In Israel, Hapoel came from two goals down to record a remarkable 3-2 win over Inter Milan, whose troubles continue as it is eliminated. Goals from Mauro Icardi and Marcelo Brozovic had the Italian giant in control after just 25 minutes. However, Brazilian striker Lucio Maranhao reduced the deficit on 58 minutes and the Nigerian Anthony Nwakaeme equalized from the penalty spot after Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had been sent off. Ex-Chelsea striker Ben Sahar then came off the bench to score a stoppage-time winner at the Turner Stadium. Southampton and Hapoel are level on seven points apiece and the Premier League side must either draw 0-0 or win on Dec. 8 if it is to reach the last 32. Elsewhere, Roma secured its place in the knockout phase as winner of Group E after Edin Dzeko netted a hat trick in a comfortable 4-1 win at home to the Czech champions Viktoria Plzen. Thirteen of the 24 qualifying berths for the knockout stage have been claimed with a round of group matches still to play, with 2012 finalists Athletic Bilbao also progressing. The Basque side beat Italian outfit Sassuolo 3-2 at San Mames, with Raul Garcia and Inigo Lekue netting either side of a strike from the veteran Aritz Aduriz. Athletic join Belgians Genk in qualifying from Group F, while APOEL of Cyprus and Greek champion Olympiakos is now through from Group B and both Anderlecht and Saint-Etienne progress from Group C. Krasnodar of Russia is the other team to clinch its place in the last 32 Thursday after a 1-1 draw at home to Salzburg secured thanks to a late goal by Fedor Smolov. Krasnodar will finish second in Group I behind Schalke, which defeated Nice 2-0 in Gelsenkirchen to make it five wins from five. The French league leader is eliminated after Yevhen Konoplyanka and Dennis Aogo got Schalke’s goals, the latter from a penalty. — AFP