Steaua's free-scoring Stancu aims at Liverpool

FC Steaua Bucuresti have be having a rather mixed season but there is a real saving grace in the form of Bogdan Stancu.

Steaua lie seventh in the Romanian table, ten points adrift of leaders FC Otelul Galati, but the 23-year-old is the league's top scorer with 12 goals and national coach Razvan Lucescu has said: "The future belongs to Stancu." The form which saw Stancu score both goals in Sunday's 2-2 draw with CFR 1907 Cluj could come in handy when Liverpool FC visit in the UEFA Europa League.

Three points behind the Reds in Group K but two ahead of SSC Napoli and FC Utrecht, a win would take Steaua through if the other sides draw in the Netherlands. "Considering where we are in the league, a victory against Liverpool and qualification for the next stage would save our year," Stancu told UEFA.com "They have players who are worth €20m or €30m and they make up a great team."

Stancu's goalscoring has not been confined to domestic football; he scored twice in the 3-1 Matchday 4 win against Utrecht in addition to a first-leg winner against Grasshopper-Club in the play-offs and his first strike for Romania in September's 1-1 UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying draw with Albania. However, he does not feel the absence of Liverpool regulars Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger will make his task significantly easier against Liverpool.

"It would be lethal for us to pay any attention to Liverpool's three absentees, because they have so many skilful players who can replace them," said Stancu. "If you just picked a Liverpool side from the bench and those outside the 18-man matchday squad, you would still have a very strong team. It would also be a huge mistake to judge them by their position in the Premier League."

Stancu's side lost 4-1 to Liverpool on Matchday 1, despite going in at the break at Anfield level at 1-1. "We had an excellent first half, but after the penalty which made it 2-1 to Liverpool, we collapsed and I don't understand why," Stancu recalled. "The fact is that we could not play at the same high standard in the second half."

However, he hopes such inconsistency will not be in evidence in Bucharest. "If we are totally committed and play as a team, if the fans fill the stadium and get behind us, we will have a chance," he said. "A lot depends on the outcome of the other match in our group, but it would be a huge mistake to think about what will happen in Utrecht. We have to mind our own business. Our fate is in our hands and we are well aware of that."

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Sutter thanks Young Boys' lucky stars

BSC Young Boys' roving right-back Scott Sutter was grateful for the touch of luck that enabled him to inspire a memorable comeback victory over VfB Stuttgart in UEFA Europa League Group H.

With 81 minutes played in snowy Berne, and Young Boys 2-1 down, Sutter pounced on a half-clearance in the Stuttgart area to fire across a shot that caught visiting captain Georg Niedermeier on its way past goalkeeper Marc Ziegler. "We worked hard as a team, we needed a bit of luck, and we had it in the last ten minutes," said the 24-year-old Swiss international. "My shot deflected off the guy's head and went in – if the guy wasn't there it probably wouldn't have gone in."

That slight deflection made the difference alright. The equaliser it precipitated was the platform for Young Boys to go and claim the one result that would put them into the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds with a matchday to spare. A minute later Sutter drove in a cross that Ziegler could only divert into the path of Emmanuel Mayuka to scuff a finish past a defender on the line.

Again, Sutter recognised his good fortune: "If the goalkeeper doesn't touch the ball, the ball probably would have gone [past Mayuka]. We had that luck and I'm happy I could help the team achieve what we did."

That the home win was then put beyond doubt by 20-year-old Zambian forward Mayuka, expertly converting a one-on-one with Ziegler in the 87th minute, also delighted Sutter. "Emmanuel is a great player, he's a great person, and he is one that definitely wants to improve," said the English-born defender. "You see every day in training how he wants to be a good player, and he's a very good player for us. We just need to give him a bit of time and a bit of confidence, but I think he's got it and he's been rewarded today with goals."

Sutter likewise, with his strike one for the scrapbook alongside "three or four" goals notched for former side Grasshopper-Club en route to the UEFA Cup group stages of 2005/06 and 2006/07. On neither occasion did Grasshoppers survive the group, making Sutter particularly pleased to have finally progressed into the knockout phase.

"We knew we had to believe in our chances," he said. "Sometimes it doesn't work out, today it did, and it's definitely a good thing for the club that we are through.

"The Europa League has been fantastic this season, it's been a great experience. I have played in two group stages of the UEFA Cup, and they are among the times in my career that I look back on with good memories despite not getting through like we have now. I'm really enjoying it."

Looking ahead to the round of 32, Vladimir Petkovic's men can take great heart from their home performances in Europe. YB have not just beaten Getafe CF, Odense BK and section winners Stuttgart in Group H, they also held Fenerbahçe SK and defeated Tottenham Hotspur FC in UEFA Champions League qualifying at the Stade de Suisse.

Of their hopes for the competition, Sutter added: "It's difficult to say if we will get any further. It is not going to be easy and it depends who we get drawn against, obviously. But we have shown we can beat anyone in our own stadium. We have shown it against Fenerbahçe and Tottenham, and then against Getafe and Stuttgart. I am confident."

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Sweet joy for Štilić after Lech oust Juve

Midfielder Semir Štilic expects to feel a sweet sense of satisfaction after setting up KKS Lech Poznan team-mate Artjoms Rudnevs for his fourth goal against Juventus, with a 1-1 draw in Poland sending the Polish champions to the UEFA Europa League round of 32 at the expense of their illustrious Group A guests.

Štilic's corner teed up Rudnevs for the opening goal after 12 minutes and the Bosnian was quick to remind the Latvian striker what that assist was worth. "Artjoms hasn't thanked me for my cross yet but I expect some sort of reward; I think a nice cake would do it," the 23-year-old joked. "But we will ensure that for our final group game we will be just as determined as we were tonight because for this club every European game is a huge deal.

"Games like this against teams like Juventus and Manchester City [FC] are vital for us because it gives us great experience and helps us build confidence for the games ahead," added Štilic. "We are proving that we are moving in the right direction. Now we are playing and matching European giants. Slowly but surely we are building the future of this club."

Lech knew avoiding defeat against the Bianconeri would almost certainly take them though to the round of 32 and though the Railwaymen conceded a Vincenzo Iaquinta equaliser on 84 minutes and faced a late Juve flurry amid heavy snow at the Miejski Stadium, the hardy Lech fans who braved the arctic weather were rewarded as their side earned a memorable 1-1 draw.

"We're delighted to get through to the next round," Rudnevs told UEFA.com after scoring his fourth goal against La Vecchia Signora, having hit a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw in Turin on Matchday 1. "It wasn't easy in the snow but that's football. Sometimes you have to play in rain, sometimes the snow, but we coped with it well. I seem to keep scoring against Juve, but I'm not complaining. They were important goals and I'm happy I scored them."

"When the draw was made nobody was gave us a prayer," said Lech goalkeeper Krzysztof Kotorowski. "Everyone was saying that if we got three points it would be a miracle, but now we have eight points and we have qualified. This was no ordinary group; it was as strong as a [UEFA] Champions League group, so I rate us quite highly in Europe now. We'll wait to celebrate until after our last game against FC Salzburg, and then we'll celebrate properly."

Conditions were so severe that at half-time the ball was changed from white to orange and Lech ground staff painted the touchlines pink. "The snow was not ideal for football but we are professionals so we can't complain about the weather not suiting us," said Lech captain Bartosz Bosacki. "The key was communicating well at the back, which was an achievement in itself because as soon as you tried to shout you got a mouthful of snow. But it was worth it. I don't know who'll we play next but we want to play one of the bigger teams because we want to keep proving that we are good enough to beat the best."

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Two-goal Balotelli eases slick City through

Mario Balotelli scored twice as Manchester City FC qualified for the UEFA Europa League round of 32 with a comfortable victory against FC Salzburg.

Balotelli struck on 18 and 65 minutes, his first goal a sumptuous volley from Pablo Zabaleta's cross. Adam Johnson's solo effort rounded off the scoring late on, leaving the hosts requiring a point at Juventus on Matchday 6 to win Group A. Salzburg, the only team to win all six group games in this competition last season, are out.

Making his first European appearance since suffering a knee injury on debut in the play-offs, Balotelli showed he was eager to make up for lost time with an early effort which cleared the crossbar. Swarming all over the Austrian champions, City soon fashioned another chance when Shaun Wright-Phillips rolled a ball across the area which dissected strikers and goalkeeper alike.

The goalscorer then drew a save from Gerhard Tremmel when perhaps a pass to the unmarked Jô would have been better, but that soon mattered for little as the former FC Internazionale Milano striker volleyed in City's first home goal in 305 minutes. Goalkeeper Shay Given, featuring for only the third time this season in all competitions, had little opportunity to press his claims for more first-team action in a match in which Salzburg seldom looked like adding to their sole group-stage goal.

Balotelli shot into the side netting after the restart before claiming his and City's second with a goal which owed much to the persistence of Johnson. The winger dispossessed Stefan Hierländer outside the area and fed Patrick Vieira, who rolled the ball across for Balotelli to sweep past the exposed Tremmel.

Johnson - a livewire presence throughout - put the seal on a straightforward night for the Premier League team in stunning fashion, drifting inside from the left and curling a shot into the bottom corner with his right foot.

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West Ham stun United, Arsenal through

English League Cup holders Manchester United FC had their 29-match unbeaten run ended in spectacular fashion with a 4-0 quarter-final loss to West Ham United FC.

Sir Alex Ferguson's team, who had won the competition for the past two years and not had not lost a competitive game since a 2-1 defeat by Chelsea FC on 3 April, were two behind at the break after former United defender Jonathan Spector scored his first goals in English football. Carlton Cole doubled the lead for the Premier League's bottom club with two efforts of his own in the space of ten second-half minutes, both of which were set up by Victor Obinna.

Across London, Arsenal FC also secured their place in the two-legged semi-finals courtesy of a 2-0 triumph over Wigan Athletic FC, an own goal from Antolín Alcaraz and Nicklas Bendtner's far-post effort keeping the Gunners on course for a first trophy since 2005. On Wednesday, Birmingham City FC play neighbours Aston Villa FC and West Bromwich Albion FC go to second-tier Ipswich Town FC.

In the Coppa Italia, ACF Fiorentina and AC Chievo Verona advanced to the last 16 after respective 3-0 home victories against Reggina Calcio and Novara Calcio. Fiorentina will play Parma FC next, while Chievo visit US Città di Palermo. The fourth round concludes on Wednesday, when AS Bari play AS Livorno Calcio.

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Young Boys fight back to follow Stuttgart through

BSC Young Boys followed VfB Stuttgart into the UEFA Europa League knockout rounds after conjuring three goals in seven minutes at the end of a gripping Group H match in wintry Berne.

With Stuttgart having recovered from David Degen's first-half opener to lead with strikes from Pavel Pogrebnyak and Sven Schipplock, Vladimir Petkovic's side seemed set for a date with destiny – and Getafe CF – on Matchday 6. Instead, thanks to Scott Sutter's 81st-minute equaliser and two further efforts from Emmanuel Mayuka, the Swiss club ended the visitors' 100% record to join them in the round of 32.

With Mayuka supported by David Degen, Moreno Costanzo and Senad Lulic, Young Boys started well in conditions made difficult by 24 hours of snow. Lulic rattled the crossbar and only a desperate lunge by Stuttgart goalkeeper Marc Ziegler prevented Lulic profiting from a defensive mix-up. Philipp Degen then had to clear his lines after twin brother David fired a cross over Ziegler. The Degens were becoming the first twins to meet in European club competition.

At this point Stuttgart – the already qualified group leaders – were displaying the domestic form that has them second-from-bottom in the Bundesliga. It was no surprise, therefore, when David Degen broke the deadlock from Lulic's pass, the 27-year-old looking up and lofting a shot over Ziegler.

If Élson, Martin Harnik and Pogrebnyak hinted at a Stuttgart threat, this materialised fully after half-time when Alain Nef inadvertently flicked Philipp Degen's cross away from his goalkeeper, Marco Wölfli, for the lurking Pogrebnyak to tap in. After Wölfli's fingertips then robbed Harnik of a fine goal, that honour went to VfB substitute Schipplock who latched on to Mauro Camoranesi's chip to slot past Wölfli.

Yet while the VfB revival was impressive, Young Boys went and surpassed it. Right-back Sutter drove in the equaliser via a slight deflection off Georg Niedermeier. Mayuka made it 3-2 a minute later from Sutter's powerful cross, before the striker raced on to Christian Schneuwly's flick to finish the contest in style.

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Young Boys lead seven more sides into last 32

Seven more UEFA Europa League round of 32 slots were filled on Wednesday, BSC Young Boys leading the way with a dramatic second-half turnaround against VfB Stuttgart – watch all Wednesday night's action on UEFA.com.

The Bundesliga outfit were already assured of progressing from Group H but nevertheless held a 2-1 lead with nine minutes left in Switzerland. Young Boys turned the match – and the section – on its head with three swift goals and therefore progressed thanks to Getafe CF's 1-1 draw with Odense BK. Both those sides are now out.

Group A is another section to have been decided, with three-time UEFA Cup winners Juventus eliminated following a 1-1 draw with KKS Lech Poznan. The Polish outfit will therefore be in the hat along with Manchester City FC, Mario Balotelli scoring twice in their 3-0 win against FC Salzburg.

UC Sampdoria – so close to reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage in the summer – will be without European football in the new year after losing 2-1 to PSV Eindhoven, who are through. FC Metalist Kharkiv join them in emerging from Group I having struck two minutes from time to win 2-1 against already eliminated Debreceni VSC.

Sergio Koke struck a double of his own, but it was team-mate Nikos Lazaridis who scored the odd goal in five to give Aris Thessaloniki FC victory at Club Atlético de Madrid. The holders now trail Aris on head to head, meaning the Greek side are well placed to move onwards with Bayer 04 Leverkusen, 1-0 winners at Rosenborg BK.

Sporting Clube de Portugal can also start planning for the draw having beaten LOSC Lille Métropole 1-0. The Portuguese side had been halted in their tracks by defeat against KAA Gent last time out and Francky Dury's side picked up from where they left off by prevailing 1-0 over PFC Levski Sofia to go second.

HNK Hajduk Split are out of Group G contention having lost 3-1 to AEK Athens FC. The Greek outfit now need just a point on Matchday 6 to progress alongside FC Zenit St Petersburg, who beat RSC Anderlecht by the same scoreline to maintain their perfect record. View all Wednesday night's goals or, for individual match highlights, follow the appropriate link on the right of this page.

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