AFP, London :
West Ham qualified for the Europa League knockout stages despite Tomas Soucek’s own goal costing them victory in a 2-2 draw at Genk on Thursday, but Leicester have work to do after being held 1-1 at home by Spartak Moscow.
Celtic gave their chances of reaching the last 32 a boost by beating Ferencvaros 3-2 in Hungary, while Rangers also have it all to play for in the final two games after coming from behind to draw 1-1 away to Brondby.
West Ham are on the brink of guaranteeing top spot in Group H which will book their place in the last 16, but needed Said Benrahma to score twice in Belgium to preserve their unbeaten record in Europe.
In the 1,000th game of his managerial career, David Moyes took the opportunity to rest a number of his key players ahead of Liverpool’s visit to the London Stadium on Sunday and paid the price with a slow start as Joseph Paintsil opened the scoring for Genk after just four minutes. The introduction of Soucek, Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen after the break helped turn the game around.
Benrahma rounded off a brilliant team move to equalise before using his individual skill to wriggle free of the Genk defence and fire powerfully in at the near post. However, the visitors dropped points for the first time in the group when Soucek’s diving header flew into his own net three minutes from time.
“It’s a moment I’ll really remember because the game will always be remembered for Tomas Soucek’s own goal!” Moyes said on his personal landmark.
“But overall I am thrilled to reach a thousand games. It is a great achievement.”
Leicester remain third in Group C after Jamie Vardy missed a second-half penalty at the King Power.
Victor Moses headed the Russians in front before Daniel Amartey quickly levelled.
