Group H round-up

McClaren: Success story continues at Twente

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Steve McClaren's FC Twente advanced to the last 32 of the Europa League despite only drawing with Steaua Bucharest.

They join Fenerbahce in the next round after the Turkish outfit beat FC Sheriff in the group's other game.

Fenerbahce had already guaranteed top spot prior to kick-off after a strong qualifying campaign, but Twente knew only victory would be enough to guarantee their progression.

Anything any less would not have good enough had FC Sheriff beat Fenerbahce but it was not to be, as Ugur Boral's goal proved enough for the home side in Istanbul.

Despite being unable to qualify themselves, Steaua started brightly against Twente and tested Sander Boschker in the ninth minute through a Cristian Tanase shot.

Their positivity paid off in the 18th minute - partly thanks to a misjudgement from Boschker. Banel Nicolita nicked possession just inside the Twente half and threaded a neat ball from the left through to Pantelis Kapetanos.

Boschker should have cut it out but instead allowed the ball to run under his body and through to Kapetanos, who took full advantage.

The lead lasted just over quarter of an hour before Ronnie Stam levelled matters. His shot deflected off the backside of Steaua captain Sorin Ghionea and looped into Robinson Zapata's net.

A winning goal was not forthcoming but Sheriff's failure to win in Turkey ensured Twente will nevertheless join Fenerbahce in Friday's draw for the knockout phase.

A 15th-minute strike from Ugur Boral won it for Fener against FC Sheriff.

Fener could have been forgiven for taking their foot off the gas, but they were the better side from start to finish and rarely gave their Moldovan opponents a sniff.

Sergio Da Costa blocked Deniz Baris' early strike, but there was nobody to get in the way when Semih Senturk picked out Boral from the right, and the Turkey international sent a left-footed strike high into the goal.

Fener retained the upper hand at the start of the second period with Dani Guiza testing Namasco from 18 yards before, at the other end, Vladimir Volkov sent a hopeful strike wide.

After that, the game petered out as Fener were content to make do with a 1-0 win.

Fener will go into Friday's last 32 draw as one of the seeded sides, meaning they will avoid tough sides like Werder Bremen, Wolfsburg and Hamburg of Germany, as well as Italian giants Juventus and Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine.