Gera keeps Fulham hopes alive

Zoltan Gera scored an early close-range header to keep Fulham in the hunt for qualification from Europa League Group E after a hard-fought and crucial 1-0 win over CSKA Sofia.

But Roy Hodgson's men will still have it all to do in a fortnight's time after Roma moved to the top of the group with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over FC Basle in Italy.

Benjamin Huggel got Basle off to a flying start tonight with an 18th-minute opener but veteran Francesco Totti equalised from the penalty spot just past the half hour before Mirko Vucinic struck a 59th-minute winner.

The result leaves Roma on top of Group E by a single point from the Swiss side, with Fulham a further point back. It means the Premier League must win in Switzerland in order to progress.

A last-minute equaliser from Argentinian defender Leandro Grimi guaranteed Sporting Lisbon's progression from Group D as group winners and left opponents Heerenveen's hopes hanging in the balance.

Oussama Assaidi's 47th-minute opener looked set to send the Dutch side into their final group match against also-rans FK Ventspils with their qualification destiny in their own hands.

But Grimi's strike coupled with Hertha Berlin's 1-0 win in Latvia means the Germans are two points clear going into their own final game at home to Sporting. Raffael scored the only goal in the first half and was later sent off for two bookable offences.

Mustafa Sarp's 50th-minute effort gave Galatasaray victory over Panathinaikos at the top of Group F and confirmed Frank Rijkaard's men would progress to the last 32 as group winners.

The Greeks must now avoid defeat in their final group game at home to Dinamo Bucharest, who kept themselves in the hunt with a 2-1 win over Sturm Graz in the Romanian capital.

Mario Sonnleitner put Sturm ahead in the fifth minute and the Austrians also missed an early penalty. Marius Niculae's double either side of the break rescued the points for the home side despite the 41st-minute dismissal of Laurentiu Rus.