World Soccer

Europe’s longest-standing unbeaten home record came to an end on Thursday, after Everton triumped 3-2 over AZ Alkmaar in DSB Stadion.

The Dutch side had gone 32 games unbeaten at home in Europe since entering European competition in 1977 but James Vaughan hit a 79th-minute winner.

It means Everton finished the group stages of the UEFA Cup with a 100% record after four games on Group A.

Aberdeen, with two goals from Jamie Smith, thumped FC Copenhagen 4-0 at Pittodrie to seal the final qualifying spot in Group B.

Goals from Adrian Mutu and Christian Vieri sealed Fiorentina’s passage from Group C after a 2-1 win over Mlada Boleslav eliminated the Czech side.

Villarreal finished top of the group after a 2-1 win away at AEK Athens. AEK still went through as the third-placed side.

Group winners will play the third-place finishers in the last 32 in February, playing the second legs at home, while the runners-up face one of the demoted Champions League sides. The final is in Manchester on May 14.

Teams qualified for UEFA Cup last 32 - Bayer Leverkusen (GER) - Spartak Moscow (RUS) - FC Zurich (SUI) - Bayern Munich (GER) - Sporting Braga (POR) - Bolton (ENG) - Getafe (ESP) - Tottenham (ENG) - Anderlecht (BEL) - Bordeaux (FRA) - Helsingborgs (SWE) - Galatasaray (TUR) - Everton (ENG) - Nuremberg (GER) - St-Petersburg (RUS) - Atletico Madrid (ESP) - Panathinaikos (GRE) - Aberdeen (SCO) - Villarreal (ESP) - Fiorentina (ITA) - AEK Athens (GRE) - Hamburg (GER) - Basel (SUI) - Brann Bergen (NOR)

Qualifiers from Champions League - Marseille (FRA) - Ronsenborg (NOR) - Bremen (GER) - Benfica (POR) - Sporting Lisbon (POR) - Rangers (SCO) - PSV Eindhoven (NED) - Slavia Prague (CZE)

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