Uefa Cup Group D round-up

Qualification places still up for grabs after two late goals from NEC

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 3rd December 2008

Lasse Schone

Schone: Late winner

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Udinese sealed their qualification for the knock-out phase of the Uefa Cup from Group D with a 2-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.

But two late goals from NEC Nijmegen at Spartak Moscow means there is all to play for regarding the other two qualification berths from the group.

Spartak were leading up to the 84th minute thanks to Sergey Covalciuc's second minute header.

If the result had stayed that way, the Russian side would have qualified along with Harry Redknapp's Spurs.

Remarkable comeback

But bottom side NEC performed a remarkable comeback with goals from Jhon Van Beukering (84) and Lasse Schone (87) to jump to third in the table - level on points with Spartak.

The Russians now travel to White Hart Lane on 18th December - with Redknapp's side just needing a draw to progress - while NEC face Udinese in their final game.

Udinese went into Wednesday's game against Dinamo Zagreb needing just a point to qualify for the last 32 after winning their opening two Group D games.

And they got off to the best possible start when Fabio Quagliarella opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

He netted into the bottom corner with a right-footed effort following a cross from the left by Antonio Di Natale.

Christian Obodo added a second on 79 minutes, before Igor Biscan got a last-gasp consolation, but it was too little, too late.

The defeat leaves the Croatian side out of the competition, rooted to the bottom with just three points from their four games.