Europa League Results: Analysis for St Gallen vs Swansea, and Night's Matches

Ian RodgersDec 12, 2013

The Europa League group stages reached their climax on Thursday night as teams chased a place in the last 32 of the competition.

Tottenham had already qualified as they played host to Anzhi Makhachkala, while Swansea City were seeking a point from their trip to FC St Gallen to ensure progress.

Things were a little tougher for Wigan Athletic, who needed to win at NK Maribor and hope that Zulte Waregem slipped up at home to Rubin Kazan.

Fiorentina, Sevilla, Lyon and PSV Eindhoven were also involved in final group matches on Thursday night.

But who has made it through to the last 32? Read on to find out.

FC St Gallen 1-0 Swansea: Chico Flores Injury Compounds Disappointing Defeat

1 of 5

Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Swansea City progressed into the last 32 of the Europa League despite an indifferent display in the 1-0 defeat at St Gallen in their final group game.

Marco Mathys scored the only goal of the game 10 minutes from the end to earn a deserved win for the Swiss side. But Swansea's defeat paled in contrast to the concern over Chico Flores, who limped out of the game in the second half with an apparent knee injury.

The Welsh club had already seen their flight to Switzerland delayed, but then had to cope with temperatures below freezing and a deep fog across the pitch. But Michael Laurdup's showed no ill effects in the opening stages and Roland Lamah went close in the opening 10 minutes with a curling shot which drifted just wide.

However, Swansea were handed an inadvertent boost when impressive St Gallen midfielder Goran Karanovic pulled up with a hamstring problem and was immediately withdrawn from the game.

Despite an initial burst of life in the game, the first half proved to be a disappointment. Few chances were created and Swansea never looked to be in trouble throughout the opening 45 minutes. But Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel was forced into a good stop early in the second period to deny Roberto Rodriguez.

Laudrup was left concerned on the sidelines as Flores fell to the floor after appearing to twist his knee after catching his studs in the turf, and limped out of the match. St Gallen might have little to play for after four successive Europa League defeats saw them crash out of the tournament, but after Rodriguez had seen a goal disallowed, Mathys was on hand to score the winner from a low cross in the 80th minute.

News of a late Valencia equaliser against Kuban filtered through and Swansea were confirmed as the second-placed side in their group.

Tottenham 4-1 Anzhi: Soldado Hat-Trick Sends Spurs Soaring to Last 32

2 of 5

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Roberto Soldado scored a hat-trick as Tottenham completed a 100 per cent record in the group stages with a 4-1 win over Anzhi Makhachkala at White Hart Lane.

Soldado opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he flicked a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick beyond the Anzhi goalkeeper.

The striker added a second nine minutes later when he latched on to a great through ball by Erik Lamela to rifle home.

But Anzhi defender Ewerton pulled a goal back for the Russian club in the 44th minute when he prodded home a low cross into the area. However, nine minutes into the second half, Lewis Holtby produced a sublime touch over the goalkeeper from an Andros Townsend ball to make it 3-1.

Tottenham added a fourth goal in the 69th minute when Soldado grabbed his third of the game from the penalty spot after substitute Ryan Fredericks was clipped inside the area.

NK Maribor 2-1 Wigan: Latics Defeat Compounded by Waregem Failure

3 of 5

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Jordi Gomez scored from the penalty spot for Wigan.

Wigan Athletic's European adventure came to an end as NK Maribor secured a 2-1 victory in Uwe Rosler's first game in charge of the Latics.

Jordi Gomez had given Wigan a 41st-minute lead from the penalty spot after Nick Powell had been brought down inside the area. But the lead lasted just two minutes and Chris McCann handled inside the area to earn a second yellow card of the game.

Dejan Mezga saw his spot-kick saved initially, but he was on hand to prod home the loose ball.

Zalijko Filipovic produced a tremendous long-range drive in the 59th minute to effectively end Wigan's slim hopes of progression to the last 32. Maribor also had a man dismissed in the closing stages when Ales Mertelj received a second booking.

To compound the disappointment of the defeat, Zulte Waregem's home loss to Rubin Kazan would have sent Wigan through had they won in Slovenia.

TOP NEWS

Real Madrid CF v Girona FC - LaLiga EA Sports

Bleacher Report1w

Real Betis V Real Madrid - Laliga Ea Sports

Bleacher Report1w

Fiorentina 2-1 FC Dnipro: Joaquin and Cuadrado Take Top Spot for Viola

4 of 5

Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

Joaquin and Juan Cuadrado were on target for Fiorentina as they came from behind to clinch top spot in Group E from FC Dnipro.

Yevhen Konoplyanka had given the Ukraine side a 13th-minute lead in Florence, but former Tottenham head coach Juande Ramos and his team were unable to hold on to the lead.

Viola were in no mood to concede the leadership of the section and Cuadrado floated a ball to the back post where Joaquin was handily placed to head home the equaliser three minutes before the interval.

Then in the 77th minute, Cuadrado added his name to the score sheet when he rifled home from 20 yards for Fiorentina to clinch top spot.