Group D round-up

Serie A side Lazio ensured they capitalised on a slip-up by Vaslui thanks to goals from Libor Kozak and Giuseppe Sculli against the group winners.

Sporting, with first place already assured, went into the game without injured players Jeffren, Marat Izmailov, Alberto Rodriguez, Fabian Rinaudo and Matias Fernandez.

The home side dominated possession early on but it was the visitors that had the first good chance in the 23rd minute when Diego Rubio's right-footed strike from outside the area went just wide of the far post.

The hosts should have gone ahead in the 25th minute but Oguchi Onyewu made a crucial tackle with Kozak in the area, ready to shoot into an open goal.

Lazio continued to push forward and were rewarded before half-time. Kozak got his head behind Senad Lulic's cross from the left and his effort beat Sporting goalkeeper Boeck Marcelo.

The Portuguese came to life after the re-start and almost equalised in the 47th minute. Lazio goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri kept out Rubio's 20-yard effort.

Andre Santos then warmed Bizzarri's hands with a hard drive from the edge of the area. Just when Sporting looked more dangerous, Lazio struck in the 55th minute.

Mobido Diakite got past his marker and crossed towards the area to find Sculli, who coolly struck past Marcelo.

Lazio almost made it 3-0 before the hour mark but Marcelo palmed over Sculli's powerful volley.

Midway through the second half, news reached at the Stadio Olimpico that Zurich had taken the lead against Vaslui and the home fans cheered.

Lazio were happy to sit on their lead and Sporting almost reduced the deficit with two minutes to go. Valeri Bojinov's curled free-kick forced Bizzarri to fully stretch to clear in what was the last chance of the game.

FC Vaslui began the day in pole position and their destiny in their own hands, but the Romanian side slipped to defeat courtesy of second-half goals from Xavier Margairaz and Oliver Buff.

FC Zurich, without a win in the group, started brightly and Margairaz and Admir Mehmedi both fired off target from in and around the area.

The Romanians almost went ahead in the 21st minute when Yero Bello's drilled effort from the right of the area was tipped round the post by Andrea Guatelli.

Vaslui again found themselves on the back foot, though, as Dusan Djuric curled a 25-yard free-kick into the arms of visiting goalkeeper Vytautas Cerniauskas.

With Lazio scoring either side of half-time to take control of their match at home to Sporting, Vaslui needed a goal to keep their hopes of progression alive.

Adailton tried his luck from 25 yards only for Guatelli to parry his effort and the Brazilian striker then headed over the top.

But Vaslui's task became even harder when Chaker Zouaghi laid the ball off to Margairaz, who curled a beautiful left-footed shot into the top corner.

The visitors almost went further behind minutes later, but Adrian Nikci's effort was blocked.

William Gerlem brought a comfortable save out of Guatelli as Vaslui looked for an equaliser, but their hopes disappeared in the 90th minute. Margairaz turned provider for Buff to add a second and seal Vaslui's fate.