LONDON, 3 December 2005 — UEFA Cup holders CSKA Moscow face the prospect of failing to reach the knockout stage after losing 1-0 at Dinamo Bucharest on Thursday.
The Russian champions, who have completed their Group F fixtures and have only four points from four games, must rely on results going their way in the final round of matches next week to qualify for the last 32.
CSKA need Dinamo to lose at group leaders Olympique Marseille and hope Dutch side Heerenveen do not beat Levski Sofia to extend their European interest into next year.
Midfielder Vlad Munteanu netted a 72nd-minute winner for Dinamo, reacting first after a shot from Iannis Zicu had struck the crossbar.
Levski Sofia joined Marseille in qualifying from Group F after the Bulgarian side overcame the former European champions 1-0 thanks to a superb Hristo Jovov goal, the striker beating two defenders before curling a sweet shot into the corner early in the second half.
Rapid Bucharest, Shakhtar Donetsk, VfB Stuttgart, Zenit St Petersburg and Sevilla also went through to the last 32 on Thursday, joining Middlesbrough, Marseille, Racing Strasborg, AZ Alkmaar, Litex Lovech, Lokomotiv Moscow and Steaua Bucharest who had already qualified.
Unbeaten Rapid Bucharest made it three wins from three in Group G, midfielder Marius Maldarasanu firing home a 20-meter free kick, his fourth goal of the competition, in first-half injury time to sink PAOK Salonika 1-0.
Ukraine’s Shakhtar overcame Stade Rennes 1-0 to join Rapid on nine points. Third-placed Stuttgart, who were not in action, cannot be overhauled.
Argentine Javier Saviola, on loan from Barcelona, scored twice to seal a last 32 place for in-form Sevilla, the Spaniards defeating Vitoria Guimaraes 3-1 in Group H.
Russia’s Zenit St. Petersburg top the group on seven points after a 1-1 draw in Istanbul against Besiktas. Two qualifying places remain to be claimed in Group E after Basel and Red Star Belgrade pulled off fine wins.
Swiss club Basel stormed back from 3-1 down with three goals in 14 second-half minutes to overcome Tromso 4-3 while Nikola Zigic scored twice and set up another for Milan Purovic to lift Red Star to a 3-1 win over AS Roma.
The Serbian international striker headed home a 37th-minute equalizer and rifled in from 25 meters four minutes from time either side of threading a defense-splitting pass to Purovic. DR Congo striker Shabani Nonda had fired Roma ahead.
